Bin Laden's death is turning point, many in area feel

Howard County, MD - The dogwood is in bloom at Centennial Park in Columbia.

It's peaceful with just a light breeze and the honk of
Canada Geese disturbing the air.

The Howard County Memorial to September 11th for many folks belongs in such a quiet place.

Because what matters now that Osama Bin Laden is dead is this; four names, four people with families and loved ones, who died in the attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center.

That's what Rich and Judy think about on a day like this, the lives lost and the lives changed.

"Our grand kids lost their friends in New York had friends who lost their dads and their moms who worked in the building." Judy Pauley of Columbia says.

The twisted girders from Ground Zero are a memorial to those lives.

A small pot of flowers marked this day as the thought about lives lost is on everyone's mind instead of celebrating, people are remembering.

Down the road from the memorial the folks at a veterinary clinic flew the flag electronically.

They want people to think about our troops over there and how their efforts helped make this day possible.

"It's nice that this country is pulling together with what's going on in New York and DC and this is something that's been going on with our troops over there working on this Al Qaeda business we've made a big accomplishment here for the country." Clinic Mark Boback says.

For others they hope this day marks the beginning of a new understanding in this country.

That Bin Laden's death will allow people to see that there needs to be a dialogue about Islam and Muslims in America.

And that the Muslim community like every other religious community in this country is proud to be American and need to speak out and see this day as a day of justice being served.

"As the president said he was a mass murderer of Muslims and it's a part of your faith to look for absolute justice and justice was served and you need to be very straight and very clear about that and as an American it's a moment of pride that our country's resolve has prevailed after a decade.” Doctor Faheem Younus of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community says.

Doctor Younus is also hoping that other moderate Muslim voices will also begin to speak out against radical voices.

He says that's the only way to start a positive dialogue in the US.