Local Representatives Respond to Bin Laden's Death

During a special nationwide broadcast from the White House Sunday night, President Barack Obama announced that Osama bin Laden, the accused terrorist mastermind behind the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, has been killed in a firefight by U.S. forces in Pakistan. The president said U.S. forces have possession of bin Laden's body.

Bin Laden's death comes nearly 10 years after the Sept. 11 attacks which killed almost 3,000 people when two suicide air strikes by al-Qaeda targeted the Twin Towers in New York City. Two other commercial airliners were  hijacked that day with one of the planes striking the Pentagon. Everyone on board the planes was killed.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, whose district includes Glendora, asked residents to remember the attacks on the World Trade Center.

“Nearly a decade ago, I was in Washington D.C. when the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were attacked causing a devastating loss of life and prompting our nation's declaration of war on global terrorism,” said Antonovich. “In those tragic events and during the nation’s darkest moments, we saw true heroes emerge.  We must never forget that more than 3,000 civilians, law enforcement, and fire personnel lost their lives on September 11, 2001.  Last night, justice was served but the war is not over. "

State Senator Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar, praised President Obama and his predecesser for eliminating bin Laden.

"While the world as we knew it changed September 11, 2001, it is fitting that Osama Bin Laden met his end up close and personal at the hands of our military's finest," Huff said. "President Obama is to be commended for finishing this part of the job begun by President Bush.""

Glendora Mayor Doug Tessitor issued a statement expressing relief at the news, although he questioned the immediate disposal of bin Laden’s body at sea.

“I'm like virtually all Americans...I'm ecstatic he's dead!” Tessitor wrote in an e-mail statement.  “It's just too bad it took so long to track him down to let justice prevail.  That said, I'm glad we persevered and accomplished the goal.

“It is inexplicable to me why we buried him at sea, after complying with all the Muslim religious requirements.  I would have preferred that we retain the body for as long as we needed to confirm to any and all that we got the right guy.  The people who made that decision should explain their rationale.  “

Below is a list of the 48 victims from California who died in the September 11, 2001 al Qaeda attacks:

1. Angell, David Lawrence - 54 - Pasadena, CA - Am 11
2. Angell, Lynn - 52 - Pasadena, CA - Am 11
3. Aoyama, Seima - 48 - Culver City , CA - Am 11
4. Barnes, Melissa Rose - 27 - Redlands, CA - Dec Ptn
5. Beaven, Alan - 48 - Oakland, CA - Un 93
6. Betru, Yeneneh - 35 - Burbank, CA - Am 77
7. Beug, Carolyn - 48 - Santa Monica, CA - Am 11
8. Bingham, Mark K. - 31 - San Francisco, CA - Un 93
9. Bodley, Deora Frances - 20 - Santa Clara, CA - Un 93
10. Bolourchi, TouranHamzavi - 69 - Beverly Hills, CA - Un 175
11. Brandhorst, Daniel R. - 42 - LosAngeles, CA - Un 175
12. Brandhorst, David Reed Gamboa - 3 - LosAngeles, CA - Un 175
13. Burnett Jr., Thomas E. - 38 - San Ramon, CA - Un 93
14. Calley, Suzanne - 42 - San Martin, CA - Am 77
15. Collman, Jeffrey Dwayne - 41 - Novato, CA - Am 11
16. Dearaujo, Dorothy - 82 - Long Beach, CA - Un 175
17. Frost, Lisa Anne - 22 - Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - Un 175
18. Gamboa, Ronald - 33 - LosAngeles, CA - Un 175
19. Garcia, Andrew - 62 - Portola Valley, CA - Un 93
20. Grandcolas, Lauren - 36 - San Rafael, CA - Un 93
21. Green, Andrew Peter Charles Curry - 34 - Santa Monica, CA - Am 11
22. Guadagno, Richard Jerry - 38 - Eureka, CA - Un 93
23. Hall, Stanley - 68 - RanchoPalosVerdes, CA - Am 77
24. Hardacre, Gerald F. - 62 - Carlsbad, CA - Un 175
25. Hart, John Patrick - 38 - Danville, CA - Dec WTC
26. Hofer, John - 45 - Bellflower, CA - Am 11
27. Hughes, Melissa Harrington - 31 - San Francisco, CA - Dec WTC
28. Keating, Barbara - 72 - Palm Springs, CA - Am 11
29. Keller, Chandler "Chad" - 29 - El Segundo, CA - Am 77
30. Lee, Daniel John - 34 - Van Nuys, CA - Am 11
31. Lopez, Maclovio "Joe" - 41 - LosAngeles, CA - Un 175
32. Menchaca, Dora M. - 45 - Santa Monica, CA - Am 77
33. Miller, Nicole - 21 - San Jose, CA - Un 93
34. Neira, Laurie Ann - 48 - LosAngeles, CA - Am 11
35. Ornedo, Ruben - 39 - LosAngeles, CA - Am 77
36. Pappalardo, Marie - 53 - Paramount, CA - Un 175
37. Paskins, Jerrold H. - 56 - Anaheim Hills, CA - Dec WTC
38. Pecorelli, Thomas Nicholas - 31 - Topanga, CA - Am 11
39. Penniger, Robert - 63 - Poway, CA - Am 77
40. Perkins, Berry Berenson - 53 - LosAngeles, CA - Am 11
41. Sopper, Mari-Rae - 35 - Santa Barbara, CA - Am 77
42. Suarez, Xavier - 41 - Chino Hills, CA - Am 11
43. Titus, Alicia N. - 28 - San Francisco, CA - Un 175
44. Tolbert, Otis Vincent - 38 - Lemoore, CA - Dec Ptn
45. Vamsikrishna, Pendyala - 30 - LosAngeles, CA - Am 11
46. Ward, Timothy Ray - 38 - San Diego, CA - Un 175
47. Wemmers, Christian Hans Rudolph - 43 - San Francisco, CA - Dec WTC
48. Wenckus, John Joseph - 46 - Torrance, CA - Am 11