A substitute teacher in Central Washington has found respite—ten years ago, he vowed to not shave his beard until Osama was caught, dead or alive. Today, he and a nation rejoice:

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Gary Weddle was a substitute teacher in Wenatchee when the infamous al-Qaeda terrorist attack occurred on the World Trade Center and Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, killing 3,000 Americans. Weddle was so caught up in the news that he neglected to shave. A week or so later, he vowed not to shave until bin Laden was captured or proven dead. He figured it would just be a month or two. ...

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

"He looks 10 years younger," she said. "It's a very happy moment for us. It's a very happy moment for the whole nation."

Is it weird that his vigil to commemorate September 11th actually made him look more like Osama? Truly scary "after" photo below the cut.

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THE EXCITEMENT!!! AAAA!!!