Flight 93 Memorial News

Father of Todd  Beamer, passenger on United Airlines Flight 93 on
Sept. 11, 2001, visits Flint to raise money for Memorial
Posted by Shannon Murphy | The Flint  Journal May 05, 2009 

FLINT, Michigan - To David Beamer, what he  is asking of local residents is 
a small sacrifice.  He wants just one  hour of pay to keep alive the heroic 
stories of the 40 passengers and crew  members on United Airlines Flight 93, 
which crashed into a Pennsylvania field on Sept. 11.

Beamer  on Tuesday brought his plea to Flint, the city where his son Todd 
Beamer, a passenger on that flight, was born.

He is helping to  raise money for the Flight 93 National Memorial, which 
officials hope to have  started by the 10th anniversary of the terrorist 
attacks. 

The $58-million  project has raised $19 million so far. It needs $3 million 
more to begin Phase 1, which includes a field of wildflowers where the 
plane crashed and a memorial wall where visitors can leave flowers, notes 
and other mementos.

"The  sacrifice (the passengers and crew) made that day and what they 
accomplished in  30 minutes, maybe saving countless people's lives. If they 
got all this done in  30 minutes, c'mon America,  can't we get Phase 1 done 
in 10 years?" David Beamer said.The 40 people  aboard the flight that day, 
including Todd Beamer, 32, were deemed heroes for  hwarting the plane's 
hijackers. It is believed the flight was going to be diverted to 
Washington, D.C., but passengers and crew fought back and the plane 
crashed into a field in southwestern Pennsylvania. 

Todd Beamer, who  lived in Flushing until he was 6, is  remembered for the 
now-inspirational phrase "Let's roll," which he  was heard yelling over an 
in-flight phone shortly before passengers tried to  take back the plane.

At the site now  sits a makeshift shelter for volunteers off a gravel road, 
some portable toilets and a small area with flags andmementos.

Future phases of  the project include a visitor center, an entranceway 
meant to mimic the  flight's path and a "tower of voices" 93 feet tall with 40 
wind  chimes to represent the people on the flight. The project is through a  
partnership with the National Park Foundation, Families of Flint 93, the Flight 
93 Advisory Commission and the Flight 93 Memorial Task Force.

David Beamer  stopped by Flint City Hall seeking help Tuesday and metwith 
city hall staff members.

Flint spokesman Bob Campbell  said the city is providing assistance by 
introducing Beamer to additional  people and organizations that may be 
able to help.

"It certainly  takes on an added significance in that regard knowing that 
one of Flint's son's played such a pivotal role (on Flight 93)," Campbell said.

David Beamer said  the memorial needs to be built as an appropriate" field 
of honor" for  those on the plane.


"I know what happened that day and I know Todd and some of the others 
on that plane,"  he said. "They did a terrific thing and the country needs 
to know."