Suffield Residents Respond to News of Bin Laden's Death

For many people in Suffield, news of Osama bin Laden’s death was welcome in a way. It provided a sense of closure accompanied by a mix of emotions.

For Suffield residents who lost loved ones in terrorist attacks and the following war, who have experience in the armed forces and close ties to the nation’s Capitol, the news was especially meaningful.

Ed McAnaney, an attorney in town and a former Suffield probate court judge, is a Navy veteran who served in the Iraq War. His son, Joseph McAnaney, attends Catholic University in Washington D.C. Shortly after hearing the news of Bin Laden’s death, Joseph ventured to the White House with a few of his friends and joined the impromptu celebration.

Ed McAnaney was watching TV on Sunday night when he first heard that President Barack Obama was going to make an important announcement. He stayed tuned in and eventually got the news.

“Well, that’s good,” McAnaney said of his reaction when he first heard the announcement. “He’s a bad man. He did a lot of bad things, to our country and others.”

McAananey was in the Naval reserves when he was called up to active duty as commodore of Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron 25 in July 2004. McAnaney was in charge of more than 500 sailors who provided anti-terrorism force protection to southern Iraq, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

“I was pretty busy during that period of time,” he said.

McAnaney said it was bin Laden’s “time to go” and noted the former al-Qaida leader’s duplicity in using religion to cloak a violent, anything-goes vendetta.

“My guess would be that the thoughts are pretty much universal,” he said.

Annie Rossi, a Suffield resident, also had family in Washington D.C., albeit for a more somber reason. Her sons, Michael Rossi and Chris Rossi, visit the grave of Marine Cpl. Stephen Bixler, a Suffield High School graduate killed in Fallujah on May 4, 2006, each year on the anniversary of his passing.

Michael Rossi served in the Marines with Bixler. They had completed a tour of duty together in Haiti before Bixler was sent to Iraq. Chris Rossi was one of Bixler’s closest friends and graduated from high school with Bixler, Annie Rossi said.

Her sons placed a late-night phone call to their mother on Sunday.

“They said ‘Mom! Are you watching the news?’” she said.

The Rossi brothers also joined in with the sudden celebration at the White House. Annie Rossi said her sons were happy that they could “show Stephen tomorrow that we got [Bin Laden].”

Rossi said she couldn’t believe the news at first, comparing it to the first mentions of Saddam Hussein’s capture in 2003. As information was confirmed, she felt a sense of calm.

“You’re just relieved a little,” she said.

Rossi said it was tough to reconcile feelings of happiness over the death of a person. But bin Laden’s death meant that Bixler, and the many other casualties of recent wars and terrorist attacks, didn’t die in vain. She said reactions and feelings toward the news can be “very personal” for those with a deep connection to the events.

Rossi hopes the news will encourage more people to attend the annual memorial picnic in honor of Bixler, which celebrates and honors his life. The picnic also raises money for a memorial fund in Bixler’s name. The memorial fund contributes to community projects in Suffield.

The Annual Cpl. Stephen R. Bixler Memorial Picnic will be held on May 29 from noon until 5 p.m. at the Suffield Sportsmen’s Club on Phelps Road. Tickets cost $15 and are available at the First National Bank of Suffield, Suffield Hardware, Suffield Inn, and Suffield Pizza as well as by contacting Annie Rossi at 860-668-7592.