Todd was seemingly unaware and asked Lisa if she thought the terrorists wanted money or ransom. Todd Beamer.īy this point, two airplanes had already crashed into the World Trade Centre and another had crashed into the Pentagon. The passengers and crew had been forced towards the back of the airplane. He told Lisa that he was safe to talk because the terrorists were in the cockpit and first class. He described how one flight attended had been stabbed to death (possibly Debbie Welsh) while both the pilot and co-pilot had been forced into the cockpit. He told Lisa that one of hijackers appeared to have a bomb strapped to his waist and he was standing guard in first class. With the help of a flight attendant, Todd told Lisa how many passengers and crew were on board. “He told me that he had dialed zero to report his plane was being hijacked and he wanted someone to talk to,” she recollected. Todd told her that there were four hijackers with knives that had taken over the plane. Lisa Jefferson was on the other end of the lime. When the airplane was hijacked, Todd attempted to place a call through an on-air telephone but was routed to customer services instead. Instead, however, Todd found himself in the midst of a terrorist attack. He had planned to be home from a cross-country business trip in time to have breakfast with his family on the 12th of September, 2001 The flight had been delayed for 43 minutes due to heavy air traffic. He boarded United Airlines Flight 93 which left Newark International Airport bound for San Francisco at 8:43AM on the 11 th of September, 2001. It’s a great legacy for a father to leave his children.Todd Beamer was a 32-year-old Oracle software account manager from Cranbury, New Jersey. My sons will be told their whole lives that their father was a hero, that he saved lives. “Some people live their whole lives, long lives, without having left anything behind. Lisa rose to the challenge and has raised the children to be responsible adults. “Lisa has done a terrific job as a single mom raising them to be the kind of people that they are and they will be,” Todd’s father, David, told The Daily Herald.ĭrew, David, and Morgan have grown up knowing that their dad is a hero. It’s going to be a difficult time for her, but Lisa has the grace and the strength to get through this.” “The real reality of it won’t set in until she’s at home and having to go through late-night feedings and diaper changings by herself. Lisa faced a massive challenge raising two young boys and a toddler. Lisa welcomed the couple’s daughter Morgan Kay Beamer in January 2002. Lisa Beamer has raised the couple’s children into responsible adultsĪt the time of his passing, Todd left behind a pregnant Lisa and the couple’s two sons, Drew and David. “As with any charity created after 9/11, the farther you get away from the event, the more difficult it is to raise funds,” the organization’s board chair, William Beatty, told NonProfit Times.ĭespite Lisa’s best efforts, including diverting her book sales to the organization, Heroic Choices eventually dissolved. The foundation later rebranded to Heroic Choices as financial struggles threatened its operations. Lisa and Todd’s Friend Doug Macmillan founded the Todd Beamer Memorial Foundation to help children who lost their parents during 9/11. It inspired the title of a book Lisa co-wrote: Let’s Roll! Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage. Todd often used the expression as the family went out for outings. “Are you ready? Okay, let’s roll,” were the last words Lisa Jefferson heard from Beamer. His soul was secure even when his body wasn’t because Jesus was his savior.” ‘I answered those questions the only way that rang true to me: Because Todd loved his life, but he knew that his life was much more than his 32 years on this Earth. “His voice was devoid of any stress,” Jefferson said. “In fact, he sounded so tranquil it made me begin to doubt the authenticity and urgency of his call.” In her speech, Lisa Beamer said that Todd’s Christian belief kept him calm in the face of adversity. Before Todd and other passengers stormed the cockpit, he told Lisa to call his family and inform them of the immense love he had for them. He called Airfone and was connected to operator Lisa Jefferson, who described Todd’s surprisingly calm demeanor. Todd Beamer didn’t call his family as other passengers did. Todd Beamer’s story provided America with a bit of joy during a dark time for the nation.
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