Lisa Beamer, like others whose everyday existence was transformed by the 9-11 attacks, lives in two worlds. This is where Beamer goes to sob when the burden of raising three small children on her own is more than she can bear, where she cries out at her dead husband, "I can't believe you did this to me!" When she's run out of tears, she dries her face with one of Todd's T shirts. His softball cleats sit on the floor, along with an old sock she found while emptying out a suitcase. Lisa calls the storage space her "surreal closet." Upstairs in her bedroom is the "real Todd" closet, where his clothes still hang, where she can still smell his presence. Only the date, September 11, is readable. And, tucked here and there, are more wrenching reminders, like the shattered fragments, still smelling of jet fuel, of Todd's watch, recovered from the wreckage of Flight 93. Piled high are videotapes of Lisa's interviews with Larry and Oprah and Katie and Diane hundreds upon hundreds of newspaper clips news photos of President Bush saluting Lisa during his address to Congress last Sept. There are flags and plaques and two Purple Hearts-each sent by a veteran who thought Todd had earned his. Large plastic containers filled with thousands of letters and postcards from all over the world, some addressed to "Lisa Beamer, New Jersey, USA," or "Lisa, hero Todd's wife, New Jersey" songs and poems from strangers cushions and blankets emblazoned with the Lord's Prayer enough homemade "Let's Roll" mementos to stock a gift shop. It’s a great legacy for a father to leave his children.Downstairs, in Lisa Beamer's spacious home in Cranbury, N.J., is a coat closet crammed with things she never wanted to own. 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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