[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17678]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                          HONORING TODD BEAMER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 21, 2001

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, America has found a hero in Todd Beamer, one 
of the passengers on the hijacked Flight 93 who gave their lives to 
deny the vicious hijackers their deadly mission. We all mourn the loss 
of Todd Beamer and the others on that flight and our hearts and prayers 
go out to Lisa Beamer, their two fine children, and to all the other 
families of the people on that plane. We also hold up the memory of Mr. 
Beamer as one who represents what is good about America.
  For two centuries observers around the world from Alexis de 
Toqueville to Winston Churchill, have spoken about the marvelous 
ability of Americans to rise to meet a challenging situation, the 
ability of individual Americans to step from their ordinary lives to do 
extraordinary things.
  I attended the memorial service for Todd Beamer at the church in 
Plainsboro, New Jersey where the Beamer family worships. From the 
remembrances delivered lovingly by friends and family I learned a lot 
about the character of this national hero. He was an outstanding 
athlete who led and inspired his teammates. He was a fine businessman 
who stood out in a national company. He was an involved and loving 
father who was looking forward to the upcoming birth of his third 
child. Especially, I learned that he was a man of deep religious faith, 
a faith that allowed him to look past death to act so courageously on 
board Flight 93.
  We all believe that band of passengers who fought the hijackers--
Todd's father called them freedom fighers--saved hundreds, perhaps 
thousands of lives that would have been taken if that plane has made 
its fiery descent into the hijackers' intended target. It is worth 
noting that none of those people whose lives were saved know who they 
are. We will never know. But all Americans can be grateful and can 
raise up the example of the heroes on that flight.
  Their memory reminds us that this is not the last time America will 
need heroes. The survival of American ideals depends day in and day out 
on ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things, courageous things. 
The opportunity comes to every American to do courageous things. Most 
Americans will never have to face down an armed hijacker, but may have 
the opportunity in their neighborhoods or among their friends to face 
down bigotry, intolerance, or injustice. The memory of people like Todd 
Beamer helps us meet those challenges.

                          ____________________