Besides remembering where I was Tuesday morning September 11th ten years ago and the images I saw, I remember much more what I heard. The one phrase that stands out for me on our 9/11 anniversary and other more ordinary days is Todd Beamer’s infinite “let’s roll.” Never has such a short phrase meant so much. Hearing the tape of Todd Beamer’s “let’s roll” is more than a simple call to action it is a call to courage, unity, and solidarity in one mission: get the bad guy and stand up for America.
Todd Beamer left us with a mission to continue rolling in courage, unity and solidarity in standing up for America. He invokes the lyrics of the song “God Bless the USA” – “and I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.” Beamer wasn’t alone, there were other courageous Americans who followed his lead and united with him to do their best to stop terrorism that day. Still, his leadership in inspiring their action is undeniable.
As we think about where we are going in our country right now and how frustrated we all feel about the economy and our debts, the answer is in how we choose to roll. I hope Beamer’s assertion will live on in each one of us by calling us to each do our part in our daily lives to make America a better place. Simple acts of rolling in courage and unity: love our neighbors as we love ourselves; take the time to help someone in need; pray for someone else besides ourselves; give even the smallest amount that we don’t have to help someone worse off than ourselves; refuse to wait on an outside solution to our internal problems; and turn our backs on blaming and complaining.
Someone might ask how can this help the economy and create a job. It may do none of these things, but it has the power to unite a community, strengthen our character and grow our will to forge a path to greatness. Ten years ago we rolled on in this way and ignored categorizations and persuasions of class, race, and politics. We rolled on comforting one another, giving aid, and offering the first fruits of our labor, charity, and prayers.
Thank you Todd Beamer for leaving us with courage and character and a call to action. May those two words haunt us towards the purpose of uniting mankind and willing ourselves to be better in each other for the greater good of our country.
