Georgia relatives of victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks expressed excitement, concern and even skepticism over news that Osama bin Laden was killed by American forces.
Shelby White of Atlanta, the father of Adam White, who died in the terror attacks on the World Trade Center, said, “There’s nothing to call it but good news. It’s great to see we still have people on the ground who are doing the work.”
Regarding whether this brings closure, he said, “I don’t know what closure is. If it means I’m not going to think about my son, well that’s never going to happen. I think about him every day, and I will until I’m off of this planet.”
He added, though, “Things are better today than they were yesterday.”
To America’s allies, this sends a message that we don’t give up, he said.
Georgia White of Atlanta, who became Adam White’s stepmother when he was 4, said, “This is an exciting day. We are very glad. I can’t tell you how much I would like to shake the hands of the Americans who accomplished this.”
She said the phone has been ringing off the hook with calls from family and friends.
She is concerned, however, about possible retaliation from the terrorists.
“Hopefully nothing will happen,” she said. “But I’m sure those people will retaliate.”
She’s been weeping, as the event has brought back memories of Adam. “The whole visual impact comes back. Watching the plane flying into the building, knowing my son is there.”
“I wish it hadn’t taken so long,” she said.
The sister of a former Atlantan killed in the attacks had a different reaction to the news.
Sara Guest’s sister, Leslie Whittington, was killed when American Airlines Flight 77 from Washington to Los Angeles crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Also killed in the crash were Whittington’s husband, Charles Falkenberg, and their two daughters, Zoe, 8, and Dana, 3.
“I guess right now I’m a little bit skeptical,” said Guest, who lives in Watkinsville.
“I hope it’s true,” Guest told the AJC, but added, “I’m not sure I believe it yet.”
“My first thought was, gas prices are up and the president’s popularity is down,” she said.
Guest’s sister, who had previously lived in Athens and Atlanta and had attended Georgia State University, was a professor of public policy at Georgetown University in Washington. On Sept. 11, 2001, she and her family were on their way to Canberra, Australia, where she was going to spend two months as a visiting fellow at Australian National University.
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