Little Reaction Around Medfield to News of Bin Laden's Death

A Medfield High School student proudly wore a United States of America "Freedom" shirt Monday afternoon at the Medfield High School baseball game vs. Millis.

"I like your shirt, it is very fitting for today," a woman in the crowd said to the student. 

Fitting it was, but also rare as many around Medfield kept discussion of Sunday night's historic news that Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 attacks, was killed to a minimum.

Many around town Monday said they were "happy" of the news out of Washington D.C. and "thanked the troops" for their efforts but would not elaborate beyond that. Medfield Town Administrator Mike Sullivan declined to comment on bin Laden's death, saying "I'm focused  more on local issues" and that he would discuss anything Medfield related. Administrative Assistant Evelyn Clarke said she was "happy" but would not comment further.

For most, it was just another day around town, but for Medfield Board of Selectmen chair, Osler "Pete" Peterson, reflected on the feelings and memories experienced from Sept. 11, 2001 and the significance of bin Laden's death.

"[News of bin Laden's death] reminded me of the sad feelings that were caused by the 9/11 attacks, so I found myself having lots of sadness," Peterson said. "I was not in a celebratory mood at all."

While not in a celebratory mood, Peterson was pleased to learn justice had been served to bin Laden, a man responsible for the deaths of over 3,000 innocent Americans. 

"I was satisfied that [bin Laden] has been made to account, and that at long last the U.S. has been able to locate him," said Peterson. "It frustrated me that first he escaped us at Tora Bora because we did not commit enough troops to get him at that time, and then that he was able to evade detection for so long."

As details emerged Monday regarding the United States' mission to kill, not capture, bin Laden, questions arose from Peterson.

"As I learned about the remarkably unique, unusual compound [bin Laden] built so close to Islamabad in 2005 and where he has apparently been living since, I find that I have many, many questions about how it happened that he was not noticed or found until now," Peterson said. "It concerns me for what it says about our relationship with Pakistan, where it is so important that the U.S. have good relations with Pakistan, despite the complications inherent in our differences."

While many throughout the Medfield community did not display a clear or present reaction to the historic news of bin Laden's death Monday, Peterson said to some degree, the news has a local impact. 

"The Town of Medfield is a remarkable, wonderful and supportive community in which one can forget about the lacks, scarcities, and dangers in the rest of the world, and yet an event like 9/11, with all its tentacles into our community, brings us up short with the reality that the world is not just Medfield, nor is much of the world much like Medfield at all," said Peterson. "We are privileged and fortunate to live in a community where most do not go to bed hungry at night, where there is little real poverty, where most are safe as they move about our town and sleep at night, and where we enjoy a standard of living, comforts, and educational opportunities  that would be the envy of 99 percent of the other people living in this world. 

"9/11 shook our world, as the dangers of the world intruded into and shook the core of our being, and to a lesser degree the news that Osama bin Laden has been killed also invades the security that is our Medfield, by reminding us of those dangers and potential pitfalls for those we love in the world beyond Medfield."

bin Laden was killed by a small team of American forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan, Sunday, according to President Barak Obama.

"Justice has been done," the President said in his address, congratulating the men and women of the U.S. armed forces for their tireless service.

The president said U.S. intelligence operatives received a tip in August on bin Laden’s whereabouts, which ultimately led to Sunday’s attack. Obama said he determined last week that the U.S. had enough reliable information to take action.

Overnight the reaction was overwhelming, from news sources to politicians, sports figures to celebrity Twitter updates.

Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown said, "This is a great day for America and our allies across the free world."

Senator John Kerry said:  "A single death does not end the threat from al Qaida and its affiliated groups. We must remain vigilant."

Congressman Stephen F. Lynch said: "A mass murderer has been brought to justice and a threat to innocent American civilians has been eliminated. Our thanks and appreciation go out to the Navy Seals, our intelligence community and our brave men and women in uniform who once again have given us great reason to be proud of their courageous service.  While the war on terror continues, hopefully, this will provide some measure of closure and peace for the 9/11 families."

Medfield Patch wants to know your thoughts on this historic news. We welcome comments and e-mails, as well as any photos or rememberances you would like to submit for those who lost their lives in the attacks on 9/11 or in the ensuing War on Terror.