A sparse but attentive crowd turned out to listen to David and Peggy Beamer, parents of the namesake for Todd Beamer High School in Federal Way.

The parents of Todd Beamer, a passenger on Flight 93, flew in from Jacksonville, Fla., for a fundraiser event Tuesday at the school. The event raised money for a Flight 93 national memorial in Pennsylvania.

The event opened with David singing the national anthem, encouraging everyone to sing along.

The Beamers have traveled to Federal Way several times over the years for events at Todd Beamer High School.

“Your relentless approach to being neighbors with Federal Way is truly inspiring,” former principal and current Director of Teacher Learning Josh Garcia said to the Beamers. “Once a Titan, always and Titan — and you are Titans.”

“Everyday Heroes” was the topic of the night, with several speakers questioning what it means to be a hero.

“Those words ‘let’s roll’ were not something to be taken lightly,” Garcia said. “What did that last breath feel like as they rose from their seats knowing what they had to do? I pray that I never have to make those difficult decisions…and that I will have the courage to act.”

Earlier in the day, three presentations were given for all the students at TBHS.

“It’s not often that we have 1,500 students spellbound,” principal Liz Drake said.

Speakers included Garcia, Drake, State Sen. Tracey Eide and Johnathan Gilles. There were two videos: One on the Flight 93 Memorial, and a second video put together by students on what makes a hero.

‘They were killed in action’

However, the main event that evening was listening to David Beamer speak.

“They were 40 ordinary people,” he said of the 9/11 passengers. “They launched our first counter-attack and it ended with a victory. They were killed in action.”

“This needs to be remembered and preserved,” David Beamer added. “The design is excellent. It will honor those killed in action that day. What it is like now is a meadow. You didn’t see the port-o-potties. We can do better than that.”

The memorial plans include reforesting an old strip mine, a 93-foot-tall tower of voices made of wind chimes, and a wall that marks the path of the crashing plane.

“It shows how high it was just before this battle came to its victorious outcome,” David Beamer said. “It’s unique, special and appropriate.”

So far, there has been $15 million raised for the memorial and another $2 million is needed by September to break ground for the first phase. If the ground isn’t broken by the fall, then the first phase of the new national park will not be completed by the crash’s 10-year anniversary.

“My request,” David Beamer said: “One hour of your pay. Also to encourage everybody you know to do the same. I sincerely ask you, do the right thing…let’s roll.”

Learn more

For more information or to donate, visit www.honorflight93.org.