Sophomore Camille Burchfield was sitting at home on her computer scrolling through her news feed on Facebook when suddenly, a couple of her friends began to post things such as, “Osama Bin Laden is dead!!”
Thinking it was a hoax, Burchfield quickly turned the television on to the news station. It was true. He was dead.
A huge wave of relief came over her as she processed the new information. Ten years of stress and worry had finally been lifted off of her and her family’s shoulders.
On September 11, 2001, Burchfield lost her uncle on Flight 93. Flight 93 was one of the four planes that had been hijacked by terrorists on this devastating day. Burchfield’s uncle’s, Tom Burnett, heroic actions, along with others, were the ones who took back the plane from the terrorists to save hundreds of lives. The plane was headed to the White House and was the only plane of the four not to reach its intended target. Osama Bin Laden was the leader of the attack and the head of the anti-American group, the Al Qeada.
“I only knew him through my aunt,” said Burchfield, “but he was still a part of my family.”
Ten years later, the United States stuck to their promise. On May 1, 2011, Osama Bin Laden was shot in the head by American forces in Pakistan. Crowds gathered in front of the White House and at Ground Zero to celebrate the death of America’s public enemy number one.
“When I heard the news, I felt relieved that the person responsible for my uncle’s death was gone,” said Burchfield. “After waiting so long for this day, justice has been served.”
Deena Burnett, Burchfield’s aunt and the wife of Tom Burnett, was left with three children to raise after she lost her spouse. They too were equally comforted by the death of bin Laden. Burchfield and her family have finally reached peace with the issue of their family member’s death and will continue to remember him for his courageous actions against the Al Qeada.