Community Corner

Freehold Reacts: Osama bin Laden Dead

The terrorist leader's death was the talk of the day at coffee shops and offices around Freehold.

The news of Osama bin Laden's death spread rapidly across New Jersey on Sunday evening, despite the late hour.

Reaction was swift and almost universal: exultation that one of the United States' most elusive foes was dead, and dead as a result of U.S. action.

In an extraordinary address, President Obama interrupted almost every U.S. TV channel to announce the news.

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While he did not provide details, he said that the U.S. has been tracking bin Laden for months and finally located him in a residence in Pakistan. After a firefight, the president said, bin Laden was killed, with no loss of U.S. lives.

Among those killed on September 11th were the following Freehold residents: Frederick J. Hoffmann, 53; Michele L. Hoffman, 27; Carmen Milagros Rodriguez, 46; Joseph Sacerdote, 48; Astrid Elizabeth Sohan, 32; Wendy Alice Rosario Wakeford, 40.

Find out what's happening in Freeholdwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Gov. Chris Christie released a statement on the announcement of bin Laden's death.

"There is hardly a life that has gone untouched in New Jersey by the horrifying assault on American soil that took place on September 11th and today, after years of waiting, justice has finally been delivered," Christie said. "While our fight against terrorism continues, Osama bin Laden's reign of terror has come to an end, sending a clear signal that even in the face of immeasurable horror, democracy and freedom continue to prevail."

On Monday, news of bin Laden's death was discussed in diners and offices in Freehold.

"It's the best thing I've heard in years. I wondered what took so long. The man is most evil person since Hitler, as far as I'm concerned," said Freehold Borough resident Mike Burtt, who was dining at Tony's Freehold Grill where the television was tuned to national news coverage.

Englishtown resident Bob Dutcher, manager of County Seat Tobacco, said he felt safer knowing bin Laden was dead but was concerned about retaliation from his followers.

"I worry still about what the repurcussions are but overall I think we're safe," Dutcher said.

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