Faith and the Legacy of Flight 93
Ten years after September 11, David Beamer reflects on the faith that sustained his family after the death of his son, Todd, aboard United Flight 93. He shares how his Christian conviction has shaped his response to tragedy and his opportunities to encourage others.
- David Beamer says his family’s faith and assurance have not waned since September 11.
- He views sharing his family’s story and his Christian faith as an act of stewardship.
- Beamer has also helped raise money for a memorial at the Flight 93 crash site in Pennsylvania.
By Darrel Rowland
David Beamer and his family will get through today just like they have every day for the past 10 years.
“The Beamer clan, the faith and the assurance and frankly the conviction that we had on September 11, has not waned,” he said. “We know that God is sovereign, his word is true. We know that for those who accept the saving blood of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, their future is secure. Having that assurance has enabled us to deal with the attack. Happily, that is not different 10 years later.”
Todd Beamer and United Flight 93
Beamer’s son, Todd, is regarded as one of the heroes of 9/11. He and other passengers on United Flight 93, alerted to the earlier suicide attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, stormed their hijackers after Todd’s now-famous final known words—”Let’s roll!”
Instead of smashing into the U.S. Capitol or White House, the plane crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
“It was the first successful counterattack in this war on terrorism,” said Beamer, a member of the Church of Christ at Manor Woods in Rockville, Maryland, since 1994.
After a short stretch of national unity in cause and purpose following the attacks, Americans seem to have forgotten that their country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, he said.
“We have not been affirming those principles in the days and weeks and months and years since. In fact the reverse seems to be true. We seem to be on a slippery slope toward accepting more things that were not the foundation of our country.”
But some have opened their eyes to the reality that their country—as well as their Lord—has enemies in the world today.
“The attack was so egregious and so many free people lost their lives that day it has caused some, perhaps many, to educate themselves a bit as to what’s going on in the world,” Beamer said.
Sharing Faith After September 11
He said he takes advantage of many speaking opportunities simply because he feels a sense of stewardship.
“I have this story, I have this belief, I have this faith. So if there’s an opportunity to share, I feel I’d better do that. It’s not because it’s fun.”
He is now helping raise money for a suitable memorial at the Pennsylvania crash site, asking people to donate an hour of their income through www.honorflight93.org.
“I’ve had the opportunity to witness and encourage people that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, and that is what has enabled me to survive the worst day of my life,” he said.
“Without that peace, without that contentment, without that reality, I don’t know how one would go on. So it’s given me an opportunity to exhort people and ask, ‘What are you doing about God Almighty? What are you doing with his Word? What are you deciding about Jesus Christ?’
“If those words have caused some to make their own decision, hopefully the right one, that’s been a plus.”
