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Making a statement against fear, widow of passenger who fought hijackers takes same flight
Friday, Oct. 19, 2001
 
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AP Photo
Lisa Beamer, widow of Todd Beamer, who was among the passengers believed to have stormed the hijackers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, walks through Newark International Airport in Newark, N.J., Friday, Oct. 19. Beamer, who is pregnant, says she's taking the same flight to San Francisco her husband was on, to support President Bush in his efforts to encourage Americans not to be held captive by terrorism.
By WAYNE PARRY
Associated Press Writer

NEWARK, N.J. – The pregnant widow of a passenger who fought back against hijackers on Sept. 11 boarded the same Newark-to-San Francisco flight Friday to make a statement against fear.

Lisa Beamer was flying on United's newly renamed Flight 81 from Newark International Airport, heading to San Francisco, to meet some of the business associates her husband was on his way to visit.

"I want to show people it's safe to get back on an airplane," Lisa Beamer said shortly before she boarded. "We can't let ourselves be held captive by terrorism."

Her husband, Todd, 32, was one of several passengers aboard United Flight 93 who made phone calls to relatives or authorities, alerting them that a hijacking was taking place and making plans to fight back. He ended his conversation with a GTE operator by dropping his phone and saying, "Let's roll."

Shortly afterward, the plane crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pa., killing all 44 on board. Authorities say it was headed toward Washington, D.C.

"It's time to get back to life," Lisa Beamer said Thursday. "I've been trying to do that over the last few weeks. Getting on a plane was something I did before September 11th and something I know I'll have to do in the future."

Carolyn Gilmore, a family friend who helped arrange the trip, said when Beamer approached the airline about it, United offered to fly her for free.

"It's going to be an emotional flight," Gilmore said. "We covered over the GTE phones on the backs of the seats; that's the one thing she didn't want to see."

Beamer, whose husband was an account manager for Oracle Corp., said she plans to meet with some of his associates to raise money for the Todd M. Beamer Foundation, which will help survivors and encourage young people to "grow up into the kind of person Todd was, who can make courageous and moral decisions."

Todd Beamer left behind two sons, ages 3 and 1. A third child is due in January.

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On the Net:

Todd M. Beamer Foundation: www.beamerfoundation.org

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