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Lisa Beamer to speak at Wheaton College commencement

Less than a week after the reported death of Osama bin Laden, the widow of one of the most celebrated heroes of Sept. 11 will speak at Wheaton College’s graduation ceremonies.

Lisa Beamer, whose husband Todd uttered the now-famous phrase “Let’s roll” before he and fellow passengers on United Flight 93 thwarted a terrorist attack that day, will speak at both the graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremonies this weekend.

While the undergraduate speech Sunday is private, a university spokeswoman said the graduate ceremony at 3 p.m. Saturday in Edman Memorial Chapel will be open to the public.

Lisa Beamer released a book following the death of her husband titled, “Let’s Roll! Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage” and was one of the most-visible family members of Sept. 11 victims after the attacks.

Todd Beamer graduated from Wheaton College in 1991 with a bachelor’s of arts degree in economics.

On Sept. 11, 2001, Todd boarded United Flight 93 in Newark, N.J., the same day two planes would be flown into the Twin Towers in New York City and one would be flown into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

It is widely believed Flight 93 was destined for the White House but Beamer and several fellow passengers disrupted the plot and it resulted in the plane being flown into an empty field in Stonycreek, Penn.

College spokeswoman LaTonya Taylor said Beamer indicated Monday she was not immediately planning to speak about bin Laden’s death.

Lisa Beamer signing her book at a Christian bookstore in Wheaton in 2002. Daily Herald file photo