As we reflect on the somber memory of the horrific terrorist attacks that shook the nation 19 years ago today on September 11, 2001, it’s always appropriate to remember the many heroes who selflessly sacrificed their lives in the name of saving others.
However, not every hero was a law enforcement official, firefighter, or first responder.
Todd Beamer, a Flint, MI native, perished on United Flight 93 that crashed in rural Pennsylvania. He led a group of passengers in a revolt to take back the plane from the terrorists who had hijacked it and were able to divert the craft from the intended target, widely believed to be the United States Capital Building or the White House.
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His iconic phrase “Let’s Roll” before he and other passengers rushed the terrorists became a rallying cry for a young Jimmy Howard during his time with the United States National Development team.
After Howard was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings, Howard inscribed “Let’s Roll” on the back of his goalie mask as a tribute to Beamer.
“The ‘Let’s Roll’ on the back of my mask was a rallying cry when we went over to Slovakia for Worlds, the Under-18s, that year,” Howard said. “The story just stuck with me.
“I’m very patriotic, you know. Whenever I read stories about that, even today, I still get goose bumps and tingles at how shocking it was….It will always be there to symbolize what those brave men did on that flight,” said Howard. It will always be there as a tribute to them.”
– – Quotes via Bill Roose of DetroitRedWings.com Link – –
