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Todd BeamerPassenger of the plane hijacked by terrorists
Date of Birth: 24.11.1968
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Todd Beamer: A Symbol of Courage and Sacrifice
- Personal and Professional Life
- The Flight of United Airlines Flight 93
- Passengers Take Action
- The Decision to Crash
- Legacy
Todd Beamer: A Symbol of Courage and Sacrifice
Early Life and EducationTodd Morgan Beamer was born on November 24, 1968, in Flint, Michigan. The middle child and only son of David and Peggy Beamer, Todd was raised in a devout Christian household and attended Christian schools throughout his childhood. After finishing high school, he studied at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, and California State University in Fresno.
Personal and Professional Life
Todd Beamer was remembered by friends, family, and colleagues as a kind and intelligent young man who was always willing to lend a helping hand. At the time of his death, he worked as an executive for Oracle and resided in New Jersey with his wife, Lisa, and two sons, David and Drew. For six years before the tragedy, Todd and his wife taught Sunday school at their local church.
The Flight of United Airlines Flight 93
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Todd Beamer boarded Flight 93, which was hijacked by four terrorists. During the hijacking, one of the 37 passengers (four of whom were terrorists) was killed, and both pilots were critically injured. Soon after, the air traffic controller informed the passengers of the terror attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Passengers Take Action
Todd Beamer and other passengers confronted the terrorists, with Beamer calling from the cockpit to report the hijacking and announce their plan to subdue the terrorists and regain control of the aircraft. Through their combined efforts, the passengers seized control of the plane.
The Decision to Crash
Faced with the imminent threat, the passengers unanimously decided to crash the plane into the ground to prevent the terrorists from carrying out their plan to target the White House. Seconds before impact, Todd Beamer spoke these final words: "Are you guys ready? Let's roll."
Legacy
Todd Beamer and the other passengers of Flight 93 were posthumously honored with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Their names are inscribed on the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Beamer's hometown school was renamed in his honor, and the university park at California State University, Fresno, was named Todd Beamer Park. On May 4, 2002, the post office in his hometown was dedicated to Todd Beamer by President George W. Bush. Four months after his death, on January 9, 2002, Todd's daughter, Morgan Kay, was born.
