Put It Above Ground

We Have Heard It All Before

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=45281

CONGRESSIONAL SESSION TO BAILOUT 9/11 RESPONDERS NEEDED

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=45283

9/11 Health Bill Fails to Move Forward

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=45282

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: John Feal – 516-901-7427

Anne Marie Baumann – 516-551-0986

9/11 RESPONDERS NEED FLOOR VOTE FROM SPEAKER PELOSI

7 YEARS LATER 9/11 RESPONDERS NEED RESCUE: CALL 202-225-0100

NO HEALTH CARE FOR 9/11 RESPONDERS MEANS NO HEALTH CARE FOR ANY

September 27, 2008—New York, NY—As the Congress continues to work on the rescue package, renamed from bailout package 9/11 responders throughout America wait for a vote on HR7174 the 9/11 Health & Compensation Bill, seven years after 9/11.

SAVE THE BRAVE, a documentary was given to all Members of Congress encouraging their support for the much needed help responders require following their service at Ground Zero. Real illnesses and no actors were used in making this portrait of suffering.

John Feal, president of the Fealgood Foundation comments, ” It is imperative that everyone reading this email pick up the phone and call Speaker Pelosi’s office and demand that this Bill gets a vote on the House floor. Where has President Bush’s enthusiasm for “getting it done” been when it comes to taking care of 9/11 responders who should be the first symbol of America’s promise to provide adequate health care. We are watching our government move with precision when it is important to stabilize world financial markets. How about stabilizing the 9/11 responder families devastated, sick and dying from serving their country, we need deeds not empty words”.

Negotiations have been on going this week on the legislation drafted by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and supported by the NY delegation. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has been personally involved in bringing the Bill to the floor for a vote, which is expected to offer relief for responders affected by health and compensation matters related to their time of service at Ground Zero.

The Fealgood Foundation produced SAVE THE BRAVE, a documentary focusing on the plight of 9/11 responders and their families. Anne Marie Baumann, VP of the Foundation states, “It’s so hard for those of us who are experiencing the sickness, depression and death that our responder families are experiencing everyday. Then you look up and discover that the Congress and the President can do what’s important to them when they need to get it done. What do our families mean compared to the dollars that have every ones attention right now? We need to look closely at what we truly hold dear when people begin to take a backseat to any dollar. At this rate realistically we’ll never have universal health care because when you don’t take care of us in seven years who really has a chance of receiving adequate health care,” concludes Ms. Baumann.

“SAVE THE BRAVE shows what 9/11 responders are going through everyday, Greg Quibell, one of our principals in the movie died before its premiere. Charlie Giles and his family lost their home. The help that people need has been known for years and the Congress has failed to support the 9/11 Health & Compensation Bill. Please see us like the people exiting Lehman Bros. with boxes of their belongings as they cleaned out their offices. In our case add the pill bottles, the oxygen tubes, the inhalers and you’ll have a realistic picture; out of work, to sick to work, no income and little medical help. We must do better in America for whatever the future holds”, concludes Mr. Feal. Members of Congress who have viewed SAVE THE BRAVE call it powerful.

For additional information please contact John or Anne at above numbers.

Dear 9/11 Family Members:

I am sure many of your readers, especially relatives of the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and at Shanksville, PA, are wondering whatever happened to the Memorial that was to be built at Liberty State Park in Jersey City. The Memorial, called “Empty Sky”, is alive and well.

Since the groundbreaking on September 10, 2004, which was attended by over 350 family members and several political dignitaries, the ground has been prepared and is settling so the construction can commence.

In March of this year, the original Family Members and Survivors Committee voted to form the New Jersey 9/11 Memorial Foundation. Our purpose is to raise the additional funds to ensure that the 743 New Jerseyans who perished in the attacks will be properly remembered.

We are prepared to see this through and are optimistic that our goal will be reached in spite of recent opposition. We have had the support of 3 governors and one acting governor over the past 6 years and look forward to that continued support.

On September 11th of this year, Governor Corzine, speaking at Liberty State Park, announced the Memorial is moving forward and the next step will be grading, seeding and landscaping of the site and installation of the memorial grove which includes two steel beams from the WTC.

The Foundation announced the start of its efforts to raise the additional funds needed to complete the Memorial. The cost of the Memorial is $25 million which includes an endowment fund for the perpetual care of the Memorial and the grounds surrounding it. $13 million has already been set aside for the Memorial through a grant from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and from the State of New Jersey. The Foundation will raise the additional $12 million needed through individual and corporate donations.

Donations can be made through the Foundation’s website at www.nj911memorial.org. This is a secure site.

For more information please contact info@nj911memorial.org.

James C. “Rick” Cahill
Chairman
New Jersey 9/11 Memorial Foundation
www.nj911memorial.org

Hello Everyone,

We received great news!!!!! ROY HAS A MATCH!!!! We are elated:) !!!!!! We want to thank everyone who worked so hard to make this moment a reality. Roy is presently in the hospital receiving another round of heavy duty chemo to bring his IGM numbers (cancer load) down to a more managable level in preparation for the transplant. We do not know anything about the donor, only that he/she is a 100% match and was given 3 dates in October to choose to donate the stem cells. And most importantly, he/she is WILLING and ABLE!!! What an extraordinary person… to give the gift of life. Roy is fighting hard to work through this Kick your Butt Chemo…. He does NOT like to lose…. thank GOD for that. Keep those prayers a comin’ ….

Take good care,

Luv Trish

So much was made of the need to quickly rebuild at Ground Zero and to get Lower Manhattan back on track after 9/11.

We needed to show everyone that the financial center of the word could not be halted even by the death of nearly 3,000.

Short cuts were taken and the recovery effort quickly gave way to a construction site,

False information was given out by the EPA about the quality of air so that people would come back to work.

The economic fate of the country depended on the well being of Wall Street and the top priority of all in power was to keep the economic machine running.

First they bailed out the airlines and then all efforts went into protecting the economic infrastructure of Wall Street.

It didn’t matter that body parts still lay unrecovered.

It didn’t matter that that hundreds of thousands would be put at risk do to the quality of the air.

It didn’t matter that remains were cast aside in a landfill with no plan for recovery.

And it didn’t matter that there was no real comprehensive rebuilding plan as can be seen by the huge void that still remains at Ground Zero

Because all that really mattered was the appearance of financial stability.

And now it appears that the lack of regulation of the same financial institutions that they needed to save may be the downfall of Ground Zero itself.

Goldman Sachs has already turned its back on Ground Zero moving its new headquarters and the 3 million square feet that they were going to occupy at the rebuilt site.

AIG is now being run by the government and it does not look like they will have the finances to take over the 4 million square feet that they had agreed to occupy.

And finally it does not seem likely that Merrill Lynch will be occupying the 4.2 million square to which it had committed.

And billions more will continue to be spent on buildings for which there appear to be no tenants.

And the 9/11 museum and most of the memorial will be buried underground.

Because it continues to be about appearances and no matter what the Port Authority reports next week it always will.

Office of Military Commissions, Office of the Chief Prosecutor

Fort Hamilton

As you know, we will be at Fort Hamilton on Monday and Tuesday of next week (Sep 22 and 23, 2008). COL Robert (Bruce) Pagel, Deputy Chief Prosecutor, and Edward Ryan, a lead prosecutor on the 9/11 case from the Department of Justice, will be there on Tuesday only. They will give a presentation to you at 1pm on Tues, Sep. 23. They will talk about military commissions, give you the status of the case, and of course, be there to answer any questions you may have. I have a couple of handouts to give to you, and I will also have a Victim Impact Questionnaire available for you to take home and fill out if you choose to do so. <<Getting>> <<Ft>>

Ed will also be available to speak with you about your loved one and whether or not you wish to testify.

If you do not care to meet with them, you may choose to come on Monday the 22nd instead. You can receive your credentials on either day. We will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday. The meetings on both days will be held in Bldg 219. Please use the 101st Street entrance.

Fort Monmouth

We will be at Fort Monmouth on Wednesday and Thursday of next week (Sep. 24 and 25, 2008). COL Robert (Bruce) Pagel, Deputy Chief Prosecutor, and Edward Ryan, a lead prosecutor on the 9/11 case from the Department of Justice, will be there on Wednesday only. They will give a presentation to you at 1pm on Weds, Sep 24. They will talk about military commissions, give you the status of the case, and of course, be there to answer any questions you may have. I have a couple of handouts to give to you, and I will also have a Victim Impact Questionnaire available for you to take home and fill out if you choose to do so. <<Getting>>

Ed will also be available to speak with you about your loved one and whether or not you wish to testify. I am unable to tell you now which building we will use at Fort Monmouth next week, but the gate guards will be instructed to direct you to a specific building when you arrive.

Both locations

As of today we do not have a large number of you attending. Please email me if you decide you would like to attend. I have a laptop that gives me access to my work email, so no time is too late (until we leave the sites). I will make sure your names are on a roster that will be given to the security guards at the front gate. This will ensure you can enter the base on that day. Please bring a picture ID with you for identification.

Many of you have asked if you could use the credentials you were issued in the Moussaoui case. Unfortunately, that is a different system than the one used by our military bases. You will receive a badge that will allow you to enter the base, and it will be specially coded to allow you to enter the CCTV site as well.

If you need to reach me, my cell phone number is 703-973-5050.

We are looking forward to meeting you next week.
Sincerely,
Karen

Karen Loftus
CAPT, USNR (Ret)
Victim Witness Liaison
Office of Military Commissions, Office of the Chief Prosecutor
703-602-4173 Ext 125
Toll free 1-866-485-4374 Ext 125
Fax 703-602-2101
loftusk@dodgc.osd.mil

Below please find a letter that Roy and his wife Trish have sent to some of our local officials.

Roy is not the only one who has fallen into this trap and it is something that we need corrected,

I was hoping that we might be able to get this to those who make the decisions as to date nothing has been done.

Any help publicizing this or getting appropriate action taken would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Dennis

I am writing to ask for your assistance. My husband, Roy Chelsen, is a retired FDNY firefighter and a survivor of the World Trade Center attacks. He escaped the second falling tower moments before it fell, as well as, worked tirelessly in the weeks and months that followed. Since that day, he has been diagnosed with a blood marrow cancer called multiple myeloma. Unfortunately, Roy’s myeloma has progressed to the point of requiring extensive chemotherapy and another stem cell transplant. Forced to retire from the FDNY due to his illness, he was eligible to receive social security benefits. We did not realize that the decision to apply for Social Security and Medicare would cause termination of a much needed chemotherapy pharmacy benefit called PICA. Believing he had medical and pharmacy benefits through the FDNY union, we opted not to participate in Medicare part D. At this moment, Roy has maxed out his pharmacy benefit and has no further coverage. We acknowledge your commitment to the 9/11 rescue workers.

Fortunately, we have the option to participate in Medicare part D. Our concerns are when and how to enroll in Medicare Part D, as well as, if a penalty exists for delayed enrollment. Given the challenges of living through stem cell transplantation, we are experiencing difficulty in the decision-making process to identify the best option for pharmacy benefits. We have realized the extraordinary time and effort it takes to navigate the Medicare Part D enrollment process. To this end, we ask for any assistance you may be able to provide in this challenging time. Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,

Trish Chelsen Roy Chelsen

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Ellen Kramer
PHONE: 718-797-7808
CELL: 914-760-3792

** Media Advisory**

9/11 Hero in Need of Life-Saving Bone Marrow Match

Family of former FDNY firefighter battling Multiple Myeloma announce blood and bone marrow drive

What: We are asking that everyone – from friends, residents, blood donors, and members of the FDNY, NYPD and the Port Authority to please step up to register for the bone marrow registry and give blood in support of retired firefighter Roy Chelsen at a bone marrow and blood drive. Potential donors may register with the National Marrow Donor Program at this drive. These individuals will be asked to complete a registration form. A simple saliva swab can determine if the donor is a potential match.

Funding for bone marrow testing is being sponsored by the

Theodore Atlas Foundation.

Why: Roy Chelsen needs a bone marrow transplant from a matching donor to save his life. As a member of the FDNY Engine Company #28, Chelsen was among the first firefighters to respond to the terror attacks at The World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. He battled bravely for us then; now he is gravely ill and needs our help. For the last three years, Roy Chelsen has been battling multiple myeloma, an aggressive bone marrow cancer. He has undergone chemotherapy treatments, surgery and numerous transfusion therapies. Bone marrow cancer patients require blood transfusions because treatment kills both cancer cells and healthy, blood-forming cells

Roy, a former Staten Island resident is 48 year old and married, with one son.

Where

&When: Saturday, September 20, 2008

10:00 am—3:30 pm

Zion Lutheran Church

505 Watchogue Road

Ellen Kramer

Manager, Community Relations/Volunteer Services

Phone 718-797-7808

Cell 914 760-3792

Fax 718 7977848