Gary Weddle, a teacher at an Ephrata Middle School, vowed to not shave or trim his beard until Al Qaeda leader, and 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden had been either captured or confirmed dead. After nearly a decade, that vow has finally been fulfilled.

Weddle receieved a phone call from a work colleague at 7:48 pm Sunday night while working in his garden. The Weddles went to the TV to confirm the news and saw that nearly every channel was covering the story. Shortly after, Gary grabbed a razor and went to work. Even before President Obama began his address to the nation, the East Wenatchee resident had cut his beard and was shaving the stubble from his chin.

Gary was a substitute teacher in 2001 when the attacks on the World Trade Center happened and each year would tell his students that his beard was a reminder of the 9/11 attacks. When he vowed to grow out his facial hair until Osama was captured or killed, Gary figured it would only be a month or so until he could shave. Months turned to years and although he and Mrs. Weddle wanted to shave the beard, a vow is a vow. Gary's wife, Donita, told The Daily Astorian:

I wanted him to get rid of it, but it was his vow. I respected his passion and keeping a vow. I was willing to look past the beard because I love him.

After the beard came off Donita said:

He looks 10 years younger! It's a very happy moment for us. It's a very happy moment for the whole nation.

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