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CNN Live At Daybreak

Spirit of America: Woman Helps Man Make Final Connection with Family

Aired October 01, 2001 - 08:38   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: In the wake of the terrorist attacks, we've had poignant stories of final calls from victims to their loved ones, and we've also heard the story of the heroic passengers on United Airlines flight 93 who fought back.

And now CNN's Jeff Flock tells us about a woman who helped one of the men on that flight make the final connection with his family.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LISA JEFFERSON: GT Airphone, Mrs. Jefferson speaking. How can I help you?

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Lisa Jefferson's life changed sitting right here at this seat at the GTE Airphone Center outside Chicago. On Tuesday morning, September 11, she just learned that two planes had crashed into each of the World Trade Center towers, another at the Pentagon, and she had caller saying his flight was being hijacked, too.

JEFFERSON: I knew it was for real. I knew this plane was definitely being hijacked.

FLOCK (on camera): How did you know?

JEFFERSON: I can just tell from his conversation.

FLOCK (voice-over): He was 32-year-old Todd Beamer, the crashed United flight 93. The man the world now knows gave the "let's roll" signal to apparently try and retake it. For 13 minutes before the crash, it was just Todd and Lisa.

JEFFERSON: He said, "Lisa," and I said "Yes?" He said, "Well, that is my wife's name." And I said "That's my name too, Todd," because he had given me his name and his address. And he said "Oh, my God."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Would you please help me welcome his wife Lisa Beamer here tonight.

(APPLAUSE) (END VIDEO CLIP)

FLOCK: Lisa and Lisa met for the first time in private last week, so Mrs. Beamer would hear in person the message Todd wanted delivered if he didn't make it.

(on camera): You a religious person?

JEFFERSON: Yes.

FLOCK: What do you think?

JEFFERSON: I think I was put in that position to do a job and deliver that message that day.

FLOCK: Feel like you did it.

JEFFERSON: Yes.

FLOCK (voice-over): Since that day, Lisa Jefferson has worked her regular shift as a supervisor every day but two.

JEFFERSON: You trying to place a call?

FLOCK: Though it's been pretty quiet lately at the call center, volume shrinking with declining air travel.

JEFFERSON: Trying to put some type of closure to this.

FLOCK: She doesn't like talking about what happened on September 11th, and says this will be her last interview.

FLOCK (on camera): Do you ever not (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

JEFFERSON: Fear is seldom.

FLOCK: Since this?

JEFFERSON: It has affected me. It was like we had a bond, the little time we had together, and I felt like I lost a good friend.

FLOCK: Has your life changed at all?

JEFFERSON: Well, it's put something on my mind, to realize that just how short life can be.

FLOCK (voice-over): Something else that hasn't and won't change is how Lisa Jefferson does her job, particularly if another distress call comes.

JEFFERSON: I would do same thing tomorrow if I got another one. I wouldn't handle it any differently.

FLOCK: More than 2,000 planes have GTE airphones. Still, this is a small office, so if you make distress call, there is a pretty good chance you will get Lisa Jefferson, and there is a pretty good chance she will be calm and do what has to be done.

(on camera): You scared to get another call like this?

JEFFERSON: No. No. Just part of the job.

FLOCK: You think you are going to get one?

JEFFERSON: I hope not.

FLOCK (voice-over): I'm Jeff Flock, CNN, Oak Grove, Illinois.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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