An overwhelming weight was lifted from the shoulders of Ron and Lucy Willett, parents of 1995 MU grad John Willett, who was killed while working in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
But Lucy Willett said closure from the grief of their only son is something she will never feel.
“We were both elated that he was finally taken out,” she said. “It’s been a long time coming. He’s been here 10 years longer than my son was, so I can’t feel sorry for him.”
Ron Willett said they both felt bin Laden was the one responsible for their son’s death and described his feeling of relief as strange, but great. Willett said he has experienced other national breaking news events, like the death of former president Franklin Roosevelt.
But none of those feelings could be compared to what they felt Sunday night when they heard the news.
“It was kind of instant,” he said. “As soon as you knew he was dead, the devil was off the face of the earth.”
The couple established a scholarship program in 2007 at MU in honor of their son to help students pay for college, just as their son had to pay for his own schooling.
The John Charles Willett Memorial Scholarship goes to at least one student annually that is need of financial aid. Winners are encouraged to participate in a mentoring program for minority students during their careers at MU and on, according a news release from the MU News Bureau.
The funding for the scholarship is a part of the For All We Call Mizzou campaign, which raises money to help students from all types of financial backgrounds, helping give more students the ability to afford paying for college.
According to voicesofseptember11.org, there is a memorial located in the Willetts’ hometown of Walnut Shade, to commemorate John Willett.
But for John Willet’s parents, the pain still remains heavily intact, even following the death of bin Laden.
“We both felt he was the main person responsible for our son’s death,” Ron Willett said.
Lucy Willett said she is glad the military and CIA did what they did.
“It was a just punishment for (bin Laden),” she said. “Justice was served.”
Willett was one of more than 2,900 people killed from the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, according to statemaster.com.
“There will never be closure for us until we meet him again,” she said.
