Royal Oak Residents Question Impact of bin Laden's Death

The day after , reaction quickly turned to what is next.

“Revenge is sweet. He was an evil man,” Royal Oak resident Helene Roy said of bin Laden, who led the al-Qaida organization. “But there is a tremendous network out there and we have to be prepared for retaliation.”

Indeed, much of the country is under heightened security following the announcement late Sunday night.

President Obama said bin Laden was killed in a strike in Pakistan on Sunday. No Americans were harmed in the strike, he said, and bin Laden's body was taken into U.S. custody.

During his nationally broadcasted speech, Obama said, “Yet his death does not mark the end of our effort. There’s no doubt that al-Qaida will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must – and we will – remain vigilant at home and abroad.”

The is functioning as usual, Chief Corrigan O’Donohue said Monday. "Residents should review … the seven signs of terrorism provided by the Homeland Security Department, and, as always, please give us a call if they observe anything suspicious," O'Donohue said.

Some residents were also left wondering how Americans can know bin Laden is actually dead.

“They buried his body at sea,” Royal Oak resident Lisa Nepi said late Monday morning. “And that doesn’t sit well with me.”

Nepi said when she first learned of the news this morning it didn’t really hit her. “I didn’t believe it at first,” she said. Nepi called her sister who lives in New York and was in the area of the World Trade Center on 9/11 when the terrorist attacks happened in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and in a Pennsylvania field where one of the hijacked jetliners crashed. Nepi's sister said  the mood in New York is elation.

About 3,000 people lost their lives on 9/11 and the attacks led to military action in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere that continues today.

Some people rejoiced in the aftermath of Sunday night's announcement, including Army Specialist Jesse Williams, 34, of Royal Oak, who served in Afghanistan from January 2007 through April 2008.

"I think this is a huge victory for the United States and I hope it's a huge step forward toward putting the war on terrorism behind us,” Williams told Patch Sunday night.

“I was glad, happy, excited,” Royal Oak resident Joyce Boulan said late Monday morning of the new of bin Laden. “I’m glad he is gone for all that he has done to hurt the American people.”