Put It Above Ground

Archive for August, 2008

Important News from September’s Misson

Friday, August 29th, 2008

Hi Family and Friends,
Seven years ago, September 8, 2001, we were celebrating my beloved husband Michael’s 37th birthday. Three days later, I was planning my life without him. I still can’t believe he’s gone. He would’ve turned 44 this September.
Looking back over my time with Michael, and over the last seven years of advocating for the memorial, I have no doubt why I began September’s Mission and why I continue working to make sure we have a beautiful and fitting memorial to honor and do justice to the lives and memories of those we lost.
We at September’s Mission would like to thank you all for your dedicated support throughout the years. As we approach the 7th year anniversary of September 11, 2001, we feel we have accomplished our mission and will be closing the foundation at the end of the month.
Our Mission was to support the development of the Memorial at the former WTC site. The National September 11th Memorial & Museum (NSMM) Foundation is now well established, and I’m proud of the progress. I feel it’s now time to put our full energies into supporting the NSMM Foundation. I am confident they will carry forward into future generations the commitment we all share to never forget that day, but also to always remember our loved ones.
I intend to remain active on the board of the NSMM Foundation, serving as a member of the Programming Committee for the museum, and as always, advocating on behalf of our families. Our goal is to have the Memorial open by the 10th Anniversary.
In addition, I look forward to continuing our work with Voices of September 11th on the Living Memorial – an online interactive tribute commemorating the lives and preserving the stories of September 11, 2001. If you are not familiar with the project or have not yet created a tribute for your loved one, please visit www.voicesofsept11.org to learn more and see how much has been accomplished in keeping their spirits alive. I also recommend Voices of September 11th as an excellent resource for families, and encourage you to take advantage of the information, services and support they continue to offer for those who need it.
I’d like to give a special thank you to my amazing board members, advisors and champions: Howard Coupland Jr.; Russ Elmer; E*Trade; Holly Nedelka; Hiram Lazar; Buck Moorehead; Dewey Ballentine LLP; Scott Warner, Principal Warner Strategies; Amy M. Smith, WhiteOak Communications; Michael Spencer along with HAI; and the September’s Mission staff. All believed in our mission and made it a reality. Each played a significant role in September’s Mission whether rolling up their sleeves, providing encouragement, pro bono services or phenomenal support.
We cannot thank you enough for making September’s Mission possible, and as we close our doors, we remember and reflect on all the good work. We should all be proud to have been a part of it and feel good about it. We made a big difference – and it wouldn’t have been possible without your support and encouragement along with the many other family members and groups who also felt the calling and resolved to make a difference.
If you had asked me nearly seven years ago where I’d be now, I wouldn’t have had an answer. I still hurt for the loss of Michael, and still have healing to do, but I’ve also been fortunate. I married a wonderful and understanding man, Bob Murphy - and we have two beautiful girls - Madison almost three - and Megan almost a year old. My work has allowed me to feel good about having a family and moving into my new life. I hope and pray that you too have found comfort and joy amidst the sadness we will always share.
The September’s Mission website www.septembersmission.org will remain active as a tribute to Michael. Your contact information will not be distributed. Please feel free to keep in touch with me or let me know if you have questions or concerns about the memorial. You can still reach me at iken1@verizon.net or 917-476-3876. As always, I’ll do what I can to help.
Thank you again for believing in me and for your incredible support and encouragement.
Sincerely,
Monica Iken

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SEVEN YEARS LATER

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

9/11/2008 is only two weeks away and unfortunately for many it will be just another day.

We have already had a movie poking fun at the attacks and more recently we had a game maker who thought it was a good idea to remake space invaders and use the World Trade Center as the target of the attacks.

It is also being reported that the Target store chain will be using the anniversary of 9/11 as a marketing tool to open up a few “Target Stores” in New York.

Needless to say we have come a long way from the “Never Forget” attitude that followed the attacks.

Not that we would want it to become a political opportunity but don’t you find it odd that neither presidential candidate has even mentioned what they will be doing on 9/11.

We have elected officials from other states telling us we need to get past the event and move on.

And of course we will always have those who feel too much has already been done to support the victims of the attacks.

The $64,000 question is why?

Maybe it’s the economy.

Maybe it’s the fact that thousands of additional sons and daughters have died in a seemingly never ending war.

Or maybe it’s the fact that after seven years and billions of dollars spent all we still have is a huge hole in the ground at the site.

Whatever the reason, the fact is that there are those who wake up every day hoping that the whole thing was only a bad dream.

For those that have forgotten close your eyes for a few moments.

The complete darkness that you experience is what many family members have experienced every day since 2001.

Experienced because:

Seven years later and the victims’ list grows every day as people die because they put their faith in Christie Whitman, when as a representative of our government, she assured them that the quality of the air was fine at Ground Zero.

Seven years later and the judicial system continues to deny any legitimate claim against deficient governmental performance or any action against foreign countries that have proven ties to funding the attacks.

Seven years later and thousands of remains are still not identified.

Seven years later hundreds of millions have been spent to dismantle a building that still stands after taking two additional lives but no money can be found to remove human remains from a landfill.

All of this after seven years.

So while complete closure will never come, addressing these issues will surely go a long way towards easing the pain.

Lest we Forget

Dennis

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THE SYMBOL OF ALL THAT IS WRONG AT GROUND ZERO

Monday, August 18th, 2008

Over the past two days the Deutsche Bank Building is back in the news again.There were reports yesterday that the demolition costs will now run to $300 Million and today we hear that there is now a Grand Jury investigation into the handling of the building.

Our question continues to be why has it taken so long?

The Deutsche Bank Building is just one of the symptoms of the disease that has been the rebuilding effort at Ground Zero.

From what appears to be a shell company that was hired to handle the initial deconstruction to the total mismanagement of the site that has led to the death of 2 NYC firefighters and a current ridiculous price tag.

The building still stands…..and very little has been built around it.

One only has to look around Ground Zero to see the other symptoms.

As the site remains an open scar that tears into the hearts of 9/11 family members every day.

But the taxpayers will continue to fund the LMDC and the Port Authority as they continue to write checks to questionable companies and ignore overruns and missed schedules, while nobody is held responsible.

And the families will not have a memorial for the 10th Anniversary and on 9/11/08 they will once again have to hold their ceremony in the shadow of 130 Liberty.

The symbol of all that is wrong at Ground Zero.

THE SYMBOL OF ALL THAT IS WRONG AT GROUND ZERO

(Posted 8/19/2007)

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=38998

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COST OF THE WTC MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM NOW ESTIMATED AT OVER $1 BILLION

Friday, August 15th, 2008

The Daily News reported this morning that the cost of constructing the WTC memorial and Museum is expected to soar past the $1 Billion mark.

They also reported that the museum will not open until at least 2013 and that it is unlikely that the memorial will be ready by 2011.

The bickering has already started as to who will pay for this almost 65% increase in cost.

So hear we go again.

Back in 2006 the Sciame Report was released to keep the cost of the Memorial under half a billion and the Memorial Foundation stated that it would “continue its efforts to refine the project’s base estimates, resolve all of the outstanding infrastructure cost issues with Port Authority and two, in cooperation with other key stakeholders, outline an array of ways to reduce project costs while maintaining the Arad/Walker vision for the Memorial. The Foundation believes that in order to move forward with construction, the City, the State, LMDC, Port Authority and the Foundation must all be on the same page”.

Again all we seem to get are unfulfilled promises as the price tag continues to rise.

We had hoped that Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Spitzer had gotten this under control in 2006 but that did not happen.

We also hoped that Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Paterson would have gotten a handle on this by now put that hasn’t happened as well.

At this point in time all that is known is that we will not have a 9/11 Museum at Ground Zero until 2013/2014 and it does not appear likely that we will have a Memorial by the tenth anniversary.

And this is even with a $1 billion estimate.

Over a month ago we sent letters to both the Governor and the Mayor detailing our plans for the 9/11 Hearts and Hands Memorial.

This $6.5 million facility would give the 9/11 families everything they have asked for in a memorial in a quiet and serene setting.

We asked both the Mayor and the Governor for assistance in moving forward with this plan for which we already have $1 million committed.

With their help we will be able to complete this project well in advance of 2011 and give the families a place to go until the WTC Memorial is completed and act as a compliment to September 11th Memorial and Museum when they open.

To date we have heard nothing back.

Unfortunately it looks like we will have to do this on our own.

Please take a moment and check out the preliminary plans for this facility which will cost less than 1% of what they are planning to spend at Ground Zero.

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/index.php?c=21

With your help we can make this happen.

Dennis McKeon

LETTER TO MAYOR BLOOMBERG

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=43636

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