Monday was a day of some satisfaction and more sad memories for local families that lost someone in the War on Terror.
Dwayne and Kay Collman were watching “CSI: Miami” at their Yorkville home Sunday night when a message at the bottom of the screen announced President Obama would be making an address to the nation.
They didn’t think much of it first, but soon the news leaked that Obama would be announcing that U.S. Forces had killed Osama bin Laden, the terrorist that planned the attacks that killed their son. Jeffrey Collman was a 41-year-old flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11, which was hijacked by al-Qaida terrorists and struck the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001. The Collman’s think of their son every day, and Sunday night was no exception, of course. But the day stirred many emotions.
“The pain never goes away from 9-11,” Dwayne Collman said. “We were greatly relieved to see the news everybody was. I wish I could have been out in front of the White House. I was going to go out in front of the house and yell ‘U-S-A’.”
“I’m glad that’s one guy we don’t have to deal with anymore,” he said.
Dwayne Collman was emotional Monday morning when talking about the news. He said he never had a doubt that the United States would eventually catch bin Laden.
“I’m glad he’s gone. He’s the head of evil,” said Kay Collman, Jeffrey’s stepmother. “Our son is still dead but at least his murderer is, too.”
Jim Frazier remembers the last conversation he had with his son before he left for the Middle East. The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, had a profound effect on him. He told his father he was going to get the guys who had killed 3,000 Americans.
On March 29, 2003, Staff Sgt. Jacob Frazier - Jim’s son - and a handful of elite Air Force members were working as part of a special operations team tracking bin Laden in Afghanistan. Four gunmen riding two motorcycles ambushed the U.S. troops, killing two Americans, including the former free safety for the Burlington Central High School football team. Since then, Jim Frazier has always blamed bin Laden for his 24-year-old son’s death.
“His people trained the guys who ambushed my son and killed him,” Jim Frazier said. “Where does the responsibility lie? With that guy.”
Jim Frazier randomly changed the TV channel Sunday night and saw the bulletin.
“My first reaction? Yeah, good. It’s about damn time,” he said.
Jim Frazier was proud of the fact “that we have a President with the nerve to call the shot” and that the operation was precise rather than a large bombing. The rest of the world will need proof, so bin Laden had to be killed face to face, Jim Frazier said.
“Even at my age, I can still hit what I’m aiming at,” he said. “I wish I was there with them.”
Monday morning was a mix of emotion for Jim Frazier. He now works in Survivor Outreach Services for the Department of Army so Monday morning, his messages were both personal and professional. He wanted to hold up the American flag all day. But on his drive to work, he couldn’t help but tear up thinking about all his son and the other people who had worked toward this goal.
“The hole in our hearts for families that lost loved ones is never going to be repaired. We’re going to have to deal with it,” Jim Frazier said. “We certainly can feel the justice brought to the person who committed these terrible crimes. There’s some satisfaction in that.”
U.S. Rep Randy Hultgren released a statement Monday morning about the news of bin Laden’s death.
“The death of Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind of the vicious attacks of September 11, 2001, is a victory for freedom and justice,” Hultgren wrote. “While his death is welcome news, it does not mean that we have triumphed over the ideology of hatred he espoused, nor over those who would seek to use violence in its advancement. To those who would seek to do us harm, the death of bin Laden is a stark reminder that we will not rest in our quest to bring them to justice.
“The bravery and dedication of our men and women in uniform and in our intelligence services is an inspiration to all Americans, and I am grateful for all that they do,” Hultgren wrote.
Dwayne and Kay Collman were watching “CSI: Miami” at their Yorkville home Sunday night when a message at the bottom of the screen announced President Obama would be making an address to the nation.
They didn’t think much of it first, but soon the news leaked that Obama would be announcing that U.S. Forces had killed Osama bin Laden, the terrorist that planned the attacks that killed their son. Jeffrey Collman was a 41-year-old flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11, which was hijacked by al-Qaida terrorists and struck the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001. The Collman’s think of their son every day, and Sunday night was no exception, of course. But the day stirred many emotions.
“The pain never goes away from 9-11,” Dwayne Collman said. “We were greatly relieved to see the news everybody was. I wish I could have been out in front of the White House. I was going to go out in front of the house and yell ‘U-S-A’.”
“I’m glad that’s one guy we don’t have to deal with anymore,” he said.
Dwayne Collman was emotional Monday morning when talking about the news. He said he never had a doubt that the United States would eventually catch bin Laden.
“I’m glad he’s gone. He’s the head of evil,” said Kay Collman, Jeffrey’s stepmother. “Our son is still dead but at least his murderer is, too.”
Jim Frazier remembers the last conversation he had with his son before he left for the Middle East. The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, had a profound effect on him. He told his father he was going to get the guys who had killed 3,000 Americans.
On March 29, 2003, Staff Sgt. Jacob Frazier - Jim’s son - and a handful of elite Air Force members were working as part of a special operations team tracking bin Laden in Afghanistan. Four gunmen riding two motorcycles ambushed the U.S. troops, killing two Americans, including the former free safety for the Burlington Central High School football team. Since then, Jim Frazier has always blamed bin Laden for his 24-year-old son’s death.
“His people trained the guys who ambushed my son and killed him,” Jim Frazier said. “Where does the responsibility lie? With that guy.”
Jim Frazier randomly changed the TV channel Sunday night and saw the bulletin.
“My first reaction? Yeah, good. It’s about damn time,” he said.
Jim Frazier was proud of the fact “that we have a President with the nerve to call the shot” and that the operation was precise rather than a large bombing. The rest of the world will need proof, so bin Laden had to be killed face to face, Jim Frazier said.
“Even at my age, I can still hit what I’m aiming at,” he said. “I wish I was there with them.”
Monday morning was a mix of emotion for Jim Frazier. He now works in Survivor Outreach Services for the Department of Army so Monday morning, his messages were both personal and professional. He wanted to hold up the American flag all day. But on his drive to work, he couldn’t help but tear up thinking about all his son and the other people who had worked toward this goal.
“The hole in our hearts for families that lost loved ones is never going to be repaired. We’re going to have to deal with it,” Jim Frazier said. “We certainly can feel the justice brought to the person who committed these terrible crimes. There’s some satisfaction in that.”
U.S. Rep Randy Hultgren released a statement Monday morning about the news of bin Laden’s death.
“The death of Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind of the vicious attacks of September 11, 2001, is a victory for freedom and justice,” Hultgren wrote. “While his death is welcome news, it does not mean that we have triumphed over the ideology of hatred he espoused, nor over those who would seek to use violence in its advancement. To those who would seek to do us harm, the death of bin Laden is a stark reminder that we will not rest in our quest to bring them to justice.
