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Beamer's father urges U.S. not to let guard down

David Beamer doesn't think Osama bin Laden's death means the end of the U.S. war on terror.

But the father of one of the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks says it's a “significant milestone” in the conflict.

“The fact that the enemy has been dealt a blow is a cause for joy,” he said Monday. “But we also must remember that the war is not over, the enemy has not given up and we cannot let our guard down.”

On Sept. 11, 2001, hijacked planes were flown into high-profile targets, with two destroying the World Trade Center in New York City and a third striking the Pentagon. A fourth attack, which was widely believed to have targeted the White House, was thwarted by several passengers, including Beamer's son, Todd.

Not long after, a manhunt began after intelligence agencies determined bin Laden coordinated the attacks. Beamer said Sunday's announcement was “great, great news.”

“A mass murderer and enemy of free people everywhere has been brought to justice, American justice,” he said. “He's gone.”

President Barack Obama announced Sunday that a special forces unit had infiltrated a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, about 75 miles northeast of the capital Islamabad, killed bin Laden, and recovered his body.

On that morning nearly 10 years ago, Todd, a Wheaton native, and his fellow passengers disrupted the terrorists' plan and caused the plane to be flown into the ground in an empty field in Stonycreek, Pa. Todd uttered his now-famous phrase, “Let's roll,” after reciting the Lord's Prayer with an operator on his cellphone.

His father said the family's faith helped them deal with the loss of his son.

“We're people of faith,” he said. “Todd was a Christian and that has been the source of coping and comforting us with the realities of what happened. That is what sustains us.”

David Beamer, 69, was watching a baseball game on television Sunday night when he saw a crawl along the bottom that said Obama planned to make a statement. He changed channels and watched as the president made his announcement.

“I am so proud of what our military did and what counterintelligence agencies have done to accomplish this,” Beamer said. “I couldn't be happier that the people who were on the ground and went into the compound ... all got out alive and intact. It does not get much better than that.”

Todd Beamer was raised in Wheaton and as a child attended Wheaton Christian Grammar School. David and his wife, Peggy, attended the dedication of the school's new location in Winfield last year and took photos on the school's athletic field, which bears their son's name.

Todd also attended Wheaton Academy and earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Wheaton College in 1991.

“The Wheaton area will hold a special place forever in our hearts,” David Beamer said.

Beamer, who now resides in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., said he never lost hope that U.S. forces would find bin Laden.

Work remains to be done, he said.

“Ultimately, closure will happen when all of America feels safe and more than just the most-recent head of the enemy has been defeated,” he said. “We must win the war. We haven't won the war.”

Beamer said Sunday's announcement reinforces his belief that the war on terror is the right thing to do. But despite his elation, he said it does little to replace his son.

“There is always going to be a hole in our hearts along with other Americans who have lost loved ones, not only on 9/11 but the days, months and years since carrying on this fight,” he said. “So many have given their all, and so many have given their lives and limbs and blood on the battlefield. The pain associated with those realities will always be with us.”

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