[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 112 (Monday, September 9, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8367-S8368]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REMEMBERING ALAN BEAVEN
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I come to the floor today to honor
the heroism of Alan Beaven--a Californian aboard Flight 93 who helped
prevent the terrorists from crashing another airplane into its intended
target on September 11, 2001.
As we approach the one-year anniversary of that horrible day, our
thoughts turn to the heroes like Alan who gave their lives to save
others.
To honor the courageous passengers of Flight 93, I joined Senator
Specter to co-sponsor the ``Flight 93 National Memorial Act,'' which I
believe the Senate will pass today to establish a
[[Page S8368]]
memorial at the crash site in Pennsylvania. This legislation will also
establish a Flight 93 Advisory Commission to recommend planning,
design, construction, and long-term management of the memorial.
I believe it is important to pass this legislation before the
anniversary of September 11 to appropriately recognize the heroism of
Alan Beaven and the other Flight 93 passengers.
I would like to take a few moments to tell the world about Alan and
his family.
Alan Beaven wasn't supposed to be on Flight 93 that tragic day. On
Monday, September 10, Alan and his wife Kimberly were in New York
planning for a year long sabbatical in India to work for a humanitarian
foundation. Alan was a top environmental lawyer in San Francisco who
planned to volunteer his services in India.
Alan was headed east, not west, but there was one last case involving
pollution in the American River near Sacramento and settlement talks
had broken down that Monday. Alan had to head back.
Tuesday morning Alan drove to Newark, New Jersey to catch a flight to
the West Coast. Flight 93 was 40 minutes late that day--giving
passengers onboard time to learn about the planes that had crashed into
the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A few called home on cell
phones to express their love and say that a group of passengers were
determined to fight back against the hijackers--Alan Beaven was one of
those brave men.
No one knows for sure what happened aboard that airplane, but we do
know countless lives were saved when that plane was diverted from its
intended target.
Even though Alan's seat was in the back of the airplane, his remains
were found in the cockpit at the crash site in Pennsylvania. The Beaven
family has also heard Alan on the cockpit voice recorder, so it is
clear that Alan, standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing over 200
pounds, fought with the hijackers.
I will enter two letters I have received from the Beaven family into
the Record. Alan's wife, Kimberly, and his son, Chris, wrote to me
about what they heard on the cockpit voice recorder in April when the
families of the passengers of Flight 93 were allowed to listen to the
struggle aboard the aircraft.
My heart goes out to Alan's wife, Kimberly, and his three children
John, Chris, and Sonali. John earned a biology degree at UC San Diego
where he was captain of the baseball team and an Olympic torch bearer
when the torch went through Sacramento on its way to Salt Lake City
this past winter. John's brother Chris attends Loyola Marymount
University and sister Sonali is 5-years-old.
Alan's great joy was his family. He spent hours reading to Sonali,
scuba diving with Chris, and playing catch with John.
In fact, John's early memories of his father were of the two of them
playing catch for hours on end. When John was 5, the family moved from
London to New York and before they could drop off their luggage, young
John made Alan play catch in Central Park.
In a tribute to Alan, the Beaven family decided not to have a
funeral, but instead a ``Thanksgiving for the life of Alan Anthony
Beaven.''
And what a life it was.
Alan was born in New Zealand on October 15, 1952. He worked as an
attorney in New Zealand, England, New York, and California. As a top
environmental lawyer, Alan worked on over 100 clean water cases in just
10 years in California.
Friends and family of Alan say they are not surprised that Alan
risked his own life so selflessly to save others.
The day after the terrorist attacks on our nation, Alan's secretary
went into his office and found a single piece of paper tacked up at eye
level on the wall in front of his desk. It was a quote he heard that
week which summed up how he lived his life, and how he ended it when he
joined others to fight back against the terrorists. Alan wrote, ``Fear,
who cares?'' And these words adequately describe his actions aboard
Flight 93.
I did not know Alan Beaven, but this quote tells me all I need to
know about him--that he was a fearless, loving, and devoted man.
One year later, it is clear that our Nation has lost a superstar
environmental lawyer, a loving father and husband, and a true hero--
Alan Beaven.
I ask unanimous consent to print the two letters to which I referred
in the Record.
There being no objection, the letters were ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
August 9, 2002.
Hon. Dianne Feinstein,
U.S. Senator, Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Feinstein: My father, Alan Beaven, was among
those 33 passengers of United Airlines Flight 93. Their
hurried steps toward the cockpit were the first in an
international campaign against the threat of fanatical
hostility. For this they should be celebrated.
My dad played a central role in the deposing of his
flight's assailants. Not only did he cooperate in an
organized effort but he commanded it as well. for this effort
he should be particularly acknowledged.
The cockpit recorder (C.V.R.) substantiates my claim of his
exceptional heroism. At a private listening in Princeton, New
Jersey I twice heard his accented words. His final phrase,
``Turn up!'' was shouted at 10:02:17.3 on the official C.V.R
transcript. Given the range of sensitivity of the cockpit
microphones and my father's seating placement in the rear of
the plane I reasonably believe that these findings indicate
my dad's extraordinary actions.
Secondly, my father's remains were recovered in the front
of the aircraft. Authorities confirmed that D.N.A. testing
placed him in the cockpit at the time of impact. Again, given
his seating placement, this evidence undoubtedly proves his
centrality in the effort to regain custody of United's Flight
93.
Though my father did not place a telephone call in his
final hour, other such correspondences indicate his
exceptional involvement. Reports were made of great men well
above the height of six feet leading the passengers toward
the captured cockpit. My dad, 6'3" and 215 lbs., was one of
few men who met this description.
Finally, the assumption of his extraordinary bravery in
death is founded on the thematic valiance of his life.
Whether in his professional or personal activities he met
opposition with strength and spirit. It is understood by all
who knew him that he continued this trend in passing.
In conclusion, I concede that assumptions based on the
thematic valiance of his life do not warrant superlative
public recognition. However, his stature and his physical
placement at impact beg it. Finally, the cockpit voice
recording demands it. I ask you to do all in your power to
issue due credit to my father. He led a group that led a
nation that led an international campaign against the threat
of fanatical hostility. My father is a hero.
Sincerely,
Chris Beaven.
____
August 1, 2002.
Hon. Dianne Feinstein,
U.S. Senate, Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Feinstein: On April 18, 2002 in Princeton, NJ,
I heard the voice of my husband, Alan Beaven, on the cockpit
voice recorder of United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in
Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001.
I know without a doubt that I heard Alan's voice shout
``Turn up!'' at the time on the tape's clock of 10:02:17.3.
My stepson, Chris Beaven, who was listening to the VCR at the
same time, independently made note of the exact same words
and time.
There are at least two other occasions that I am very
confident that Alan's voice was recorded. These additional
times were of shouting and ``aargh'' noises, familiar to us
as Alan often ``wrestled'' playfully with his sons. The
distinct sounds were very similar. The times I noted for
these sounds were 9:38:36.3 and 9:40:17.7.
As you know, Alan's physical remains were found in the
cockpit area of the plane. Alan was a 6 foot 3 inch, 205 lb
powerful man. A brilliant litigator who made his life's work
fighting for justice. I, and all who knew Alan, know he was
an active participant that fateful day.
Please ensure that Alan Beaven and all the passengers of
Flight 93 are duly honored for their heroic actions in
preventing the terrorists from destroying their intended
target in Washington, D.C.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Kimberly Beaven.
____________________