SAN RAFAEL, Calif. -- A California man who lost his wife on September 11th after San Francisco-bound United Flight 93 crashed in rural Pennsylvania almost a decade ago gave his reaction to the sudden news of Osama bin Laden's death Sunday.
A heroic group of people on that plane rushed the cockpit in an attempt to overcome the hijackers and forced the crash, keeping the plane from its intended target.
Jack Grandcolas stood in his San Rafael home as stunned as anyone while watching the president deliver the news. His wife, Lauren Grandcolas, was one of the 44 passengers and crew who lost their lives on United Flight 93.
A small park called Lauren Place in the Marin County town honors her memory.
"I never had my doubts," said Grandcolas. "I think justice is served one way or another in this life. Thinking about all the people affected by this man -- affected by the loss -- and all the people globally and continue to be affected by terrorism, it's a beautiful day and a step in the right direction."
That it has been almost ten years since that day weighs heavily on the families of those who were lost. That bin Laden has finally been killed lightened that weight Sunday night.
"It's a big relief," said Grandcolas. "Never the end of terrorism. I hope there will be some day, but it's a big day for many of us who've waited a long time. This is as raw as it gets."
The news was still so fresh Sunday night, Grandcolas told KTVU he has not had time yet to connect with the many other Flight 93 families.
Grandcolas expressed his thanks to the persistence of the U.S. military and President Obama for saying the personal losses on 9-11 have never been forgotten.
In Fremont’s Little Kabul, KTVU got reaction from a number of people from Afghanistan.
KTVU talked to a customer at De Afgahanan Kabob House who said it was about time.
"I'm glad. We're happy. It was good news for us and for the world," said Jamal Najibi of Hayward. "It's a good thing to knock down the terrorist. Everybody is happy. [It] should bring peace to the world."
KTVU watched President Obama's speech with Joel Beinin, a professor of Middle East history at Stanford.
He said bin Laden’s death was a blow to would-be terrorists and mostly symbolic. He also said there was a very important piece missing from the President's speech.
"He did not once mention any cooperation from Pakistan intelligence or government, so indirectly it seems to me the speech indicated there was not collaboration on this," said Prof. Beinin. "Historically there have been links between Pakistan and Al Qaeda."
That fact was an important one, according to Beinin, because Pakistan is a U.S. ally, but a difficult one with its own interests.
Copyright 2011 by KTVU.com.
