
57th Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates @UVA @SMULawSchool
Joined July 2009
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Todd Gilbert retweeted
Todd: Our home number is 201 353-1073…….You have the same name as my wife…Lisa….We’ve been married for 10 years. She’s pregnant with our 3rd child. Tell her that I love her…….(choking up)..I’ll always love her..(clearing throat) We have two boys.. David, he’s 3 and Andrew, he’s 1…..Tell them……(choking) tell them that their daddy loves them and that he is so proud of them. (clearing throat again) Our baby is due January 12th…..I saw an ultra sound…..it was great….we still don’t know if it’s a girl or a boy………Lisa?
Lisa: (barely able to speak) I’ll tell them, I promise Todd.
Todd: I’m going back to the group—if I can get back I will…
Lisa: Todd, leave this line open…are you still there?……
Lisa: (dials the phone..) Hello, FBI, my name is Lisa Jefferson, I’m a telephone supervisor for GTE. I need to report a terrorist hijacking of a United Airlines Flight 93….Yes I’ll hold.
Goodwin: Hello, this is Agent Goodwin.. I understand you have a hijacking situation?
Lisa: Yes sir, I’ve been talking with a passenger, a Todd Beamer, on Flight 93 who managed to get to an air phone unnoticed.
Goodwin: Where did this flight originate, and what was its destination?
Lisa: The flight left Newark New Jersey at 8 A.M. departing for San Francisco. The hijackers took over the plane shortly after takeoff, and several minutes later the plane changed course – it is now flying east.
Goodwin: Ms. Jefferson…I need to talk to someone aboard that plane. Can you get me thru to the planes phone?
Lisa: I still have that line open sir, I can patch you through on a conference call…hold a mo…..
Todd: Hello Lisa, Lisa are you there?
Lisa: Yes, I’m here. Todd, I made a call to the FBI, Agent Goodwin is on the line and will be talking to you as well.
Todd: The others all know that this isn’t your normal hijacking. Jeremy called his wife again on his cell phone. She told him more about the World Trade Center and all.
Goodwin: Hello Todd. This is Agent Goodwin with the FBI. We have been monitoring your flight. Your plane is on a course for Washington, DC. These terrorists sent two planes into the World Trade Center and one plane into the Pentagon. Our best guess is that they plan to fly your plane into either the White House or the United States Capital Building.
Todd: I understand…hold on……I’ll…….I’ll be back..
Lisa: Mr. Goodwin, how much time do they have before they get to Washington?
Goodwin: Not long ma’am. They changed course over Cleveland; they’re approaching Pittsburgh now. Washington may be twenty minutes away.
Todd: (breathing a little heavier) The plane seems to be changing directions just a little. It’s getting pretty rough up here. The plane is flying real erratic….We’re not going to make it out of here. Listen to me….I want you to hear this….I have talked with the others….we have decided we would not be pawns in these hijackers suicidal plot.
Lisa: Todd, what are you going to do?
Todd: We’ve hatched a plan. Four of us are going to rush the hijacker with the bomb. After we take him out, we’ll break into the cockpit. A stewardess is getting some boiling water to throw on the hijackers at the controls. We’ll get them….and we’ll take them out. Lisa, …..will you do one last thing for me?
Lisa: Yes…What is it?
Todd: Would you pray with me?
They pray: Our father which art in Heaven
Hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive our trespassers,
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory
Forever…..Amen
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…
He makes me to lie down in green pastures
He leads me beside the still waters
He restores my soul
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil, for thou art with me…..
Todd Gilbert retweeted
Worth the read every year. #neverforget
Todd: Hello… Operator…listen to me…I can’t speak very loud. – This is an emergency. I’m a passenger on a United flight to San Francisco.. We have a situation here….Our plane has been hijacked…..can you understand me?
Lisa: (exhaling a deep breath to herself) I understand… Can the hijackers see you talking on the phone?
Todd: No
Lisa: Can you tell me how many hijackers are on the plane?
Todd: There are three that we know of.
Lisa: Can you see any weapons? What kind of weapons do they have?
Todd: Yes…. they don’t have guns….they have knives – they took over the plane with knives.
Lisa: Do you mean…like steak knives?
Todd: No, these are razor knives…like box cutters.
Lisa: Can you tell what country these people are from?
Todd: No…..I don’t know. They sound like they’re from the mid-east.
Lisa: Have they said what they want?
Todd: Someone announced from the cockpit that there was a bomb on board. He said he was the captain and to stay in our seats and stay quiet.
He said that they were meeting these men’s demands and returning to the airport… It was very broken English, and… I’m telling you…it sounded fake!
Lisa: Ok sir, please give me your name.
Todd: My name is Todd Beamer.
Lisa: Ok Todd….my name is Lisa…Do you know your flight number? If you can’t remember, it’s on your ticket.
Todd: It’s United Flight 93.
Lisa: Now Todd, can you try to tell me exactly what happened?
Todd: Two of the hijackers were sitting in first class near the cockpit. A third one was sitting near the back of the coach section. The two up. front got into the cockpit somehow; there was shouting. The third hijacker said he had a bomb. It looks like a bomb. He’s got it tied to his waist with a red belt of some kind.
Lisa: So is the door to the cockpit open?
Todd: No, the hijackers shut it behind them.
Lisa: Has anyone been injured?
Todd: Yes, ..they…they killed one passenger sitting in first class. There’s been lots of shouting. We don’t know if the pilots are dead or alive. A flight attendant told me that the pilot and copilot had been forced from the cockpit and may have been wounded.
Lisa: Where is the 3rd hijacker now Todd?
Todd: He’s near the back of the plane. They forced most of the passengers into first class. There are fourteen of us here in the back. Five are flight attendants. He hasn’t noticed that I slipped into this pantry to get the phone. The guy with the bomb ordered us to sit on the floor in the rear of the plane……….oh Jesus.. Help!
Lisa: Todd….are you ok? Tell me what’s happening!
Todd: Hello…..We’re going down….I think we’re going to crash……Wait – wait a minute. No, we’re leveling off….we’re ok. I think we may be turning around…..That’s it – we changed directions. Do you hear me….we’re flying east again.
Lisa: Ok Todd…. What’s going on with the other passengers?
Todd: Everyone is… really scared. A few passengers with cell phones have made calls to relatives. A guy, Jeremy, was talking to his wife just before the hijacking started. She told him that hijackers had crashed two planes into the World Trade Center……Lisa is that true??
Lisa: Todd…..I have to tell you the truth…..it’s very bad. The World Trade Center is gone. Both of the towers have been destroyed.
Todd: Oh God —help us!
Lisa: A third plane was taken over by terrorists. It crashed into the Pentagon in Washington DC. Our country is under attack….and I’m afraid that your plane may be part of their plan.
Todd: Oh dear God. Dear God…….Lisa, will you do something for me?
Lisa: I’ll try….if I can….Yes.
Todd: I want you to call my wife and my kids for me and tell them what’s happened. Promise me you’ll call..
Lisa: I promise – I’ll call.
Readers added context they thought people might want to know
No verbatim transcript of Todd Beamer's call with Lisa Jefferson exists, as the conversation was not recorded and the text includes fabricated dialogue.
snopes.com/fact-check/tra…
usatoday.com/story/news/fac…
nps.gov/flni/learn/his…
catalog.archives.gov/id/2610189
Todd Gilbert retweeted
Celebrating America’s 250th birthday in Front Royal! 🇺🇸
It was a joy to join the town at their community block party – and to take part in the ‘potluck’. Their Majesties contribution was none other than… a Coronation Quiche! 🥧
‘America’s Potluck’ is a 250th celebration initiative, which aims to bring neighbours together across the country to share a communal meal and build a sense of connection in their community.
Thank you for having us! 👋
Todd Gilbert retweeted
Central wins 55-51 and advances to the Class 2 State Championship next Friday at 2:30PM at VCU in Richmond!
🔵🟡🏀
Kuwait 'mistakenly' shot down three US fighter jets, all crew safely ejected: military trib.al/gM97z4v
Todd Gilbert retweeted
Per the @GovernorVA, the flag of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall be flown at half-staff over the state Capitol in respect and memory of Virginia Delegate Barry D. Knight. The flag will be lowered immediately and remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of interment.
Barry would have loved this headline. He relished the narrative that he was merely a humble hog farmer, which I fully believed right up until the time he mentioned his helicopter. RIP, sir. pilotonline.com/2026/02/19/v…
I was saddened to learn of the passing of my friend, Barry Knight. Delegate Knight was a fierce advocate and dedicated public servant. I pray that his wife Paula, his children, and their families find comfort knowing that he fought hard and he is at peace. wtkr.com/news/in-the-communi…
I just want to be on the record as saying “terrible idea.”
NEW: China unveils humanoid kung fu robots to showcase its "technological might" to the West, according to the Telegraph.
About two dozen robots were seen performing martial arts, parkour, and breakdancing.
The performance was broadcast on state television during China's Lunar New Year's Eve show.
According to a 2024 US government report, China was "deploying significant government support for the humanoid robot industry in the form of subsidies. tax breaks, and development zones."
About 3 years ago, Beijing's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said it "wanted to see thousands of humanoids in farms, factories and houses" by 2025. (Telegraph)
"You can’t imagine how fast Chinese humanoid robots are evolving," the Chinese embassy in the US posted on social media.
This is insane.
It was a thrill for all of us to meet Robert Duvall in 2023. He was a gracious and affable host. Thanks to @BillWileyVA for the opportunity to meet a legend. RIP sir.
The New Hampshire House has just voted to take steps to annex Seavey's Island from Maine.
Rep. @JosephJBarton's HR 45 passed in a vote of 205 to 129.
Seavey's Island, home of the Naval Shipyard, belonged to NH for over 300 years until it was stolen by Maine in 1997.
Todd Gilbert retweeted
Four years ago today Glenn Youngkin was sworn in as the 74th governor. It is also the four year anniversary of @cToddGilbert wearing this hat


























