Put It Above Ground

Special Report: Sept. 11 lawsuit: Suing the Saudis

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/30/us/politics/30families.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion

Dear Family Members,

Solid progress is being made on the construction of the National September 11 Memorial at the World Trade Center. Every day we move closer to our goal of opening in 2011.

We are now beginning the extraordinarily important process of collecting information that will guide the physical arrangement of the names on the Memorial of those who were killed in the September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993 attacks. We will be asking the next-of-kin of each victim to participate in this process to ensure that all names are inscribed correctly and to determine the placement of the names around the pools.

Over the next month, all next-of-kin (as defined in the Memorial Names Verification and Arrangement Policy on our website) should receive an official Memorial Name Verification and Arrangement package in the mail. If you are the next-of-kin of a victim and do not receive a package by the end of June, or if you have any questions, please contact us at 1-877-671-1636 or memorial@sept11mm.org.

The package will include a form to verify the spelling of the name for inscription on the Memorial, and opportunities to provide other information that will help to guide the arrangement, such as place of work and other relationships that should be reflected in the Memorial names arrangement (for example, the names of those who worked for the same company will be inscribed together, and family, friends, and colleagues can be listed side by side).

This is the first important step in arranging the names for inscription on the Memorial. We will be in touch with you again with information about the specific location of your loved one’s name once the arrangement is completed.

We encourage you to visit the “In Memory” section of our website. Here you will find information about the Memorial, including how the names will be arranged and the process for determining that arrangement, and the ways that you can participate in the creation of exhibitions dedicated to your loved ones within the Memorial Museum. You should also soon be receiving a mailing from Voices of September 11th (VOICES), our official partner, encouraging you to participate in the 9/11 Living Memorial Project. We are working with VOICES to support their efforts to create the 9/11 Living Memorial, which will enable meaningful exhibitions about your loved ones to be displayed within the Museum. Anything you contribute to VOICES for the 9/11 Living Memorial will be shared with the Museum.

We understand that this will be an emotional and difficult process, and are committed to aiding you. Again, if you have any questions, please contact us at 1-877-671-1636 or memorial@sept11mm.org.

We at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum continue to keep you and the memory of your loved one in our thoughts. Thank you in advance for participating in these important processes and for helping to ensure the integrity of the National September 11 Memorial.

With warm regards,

Joe Daniels
President & CEO
National September 11 Memorial & Museum

One Liberty Plaza, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10006 ║p (212) 312-8800 ║f (212) 227-7931
http://www.national911memorial.org/

Representatives from the New Jersey 9/11 Memorial Foundation and other 9/11 family members will be attending a rally in support of the “Empty Sky” Memorial being built in memory of the 744 New Jersey citizens killed during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The Rally be held on:

DATE: Wednesday, May 27th

TIME: 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon

PLACE: North Side of the Memorial site in Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey

(Note: The Memorial site is at the end of Audrey Zapp Drive, the main entrance to the park)

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

VOICES Always Remember Benefit 6/8

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http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=48186

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To All,

As you know we are steadily moving forward with our plans to complete the Hearts and Hands Memorial in time for the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

Last weekend we began filming the site for a documentary of the process.

As part of the documentary we will like to interview those we have worked with over the past 8 years.

We want to let people know how important it is that we get this done.

We want show how so many came together to help with the healing process after 9/11 and how this Memorial will continue that process with:

The United in Memory 9/11 Victims Memorial Quilt

A 21,000 square foot Memorial Garden

Personal photos of all of the victims (including those who have died as a result of the aftermath of 9/11) arranged in alphabetical order by affiliation with no naming restriction.

A studio for visitors to record or hear personal stories about “THE PEOPLE” who died as a result of 9/11, as we must never forget the individuals, the mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, significant others, uncles, aunts, grandchildren and grandparents who perished as a result of the attacks of 9/11/01.

If you would like to be a part of this documentary please let us know.

We want your input…..We need your input.

We are restoring the old kitchen and dining area of the Sea View campus on Staten Island.

This is part of an abandoned hospital site built in 1913.

The site where the cure for tuberculosis was discovered.

We want to show that rebuilding and healing can go hand in hand if done for the right reasons.

So we will rebuild on the site that saved thousands upon thousands of lives and attempt to instill that healing process in every step of this project.

Creating a peaceful, serene and respectful memorial to honor those who were taken from us.

A place where people will come for the right reasons.

To learn about the “PEOPLE” who died as well as the good and bad that happened after 9/11.

So that our children and their children will be able to know these people and hear the true story about 9/11 from those who lost loved ones as well as those who came together in the greatest outpouring of caring and generosity that the world has ever seen.

We made a commitment to the 9/11 families to get this done.

Help us make this dream a reality.

Dennis McKeon
Corey Gammel
Rich Pierce

To All,  Once again I would like to thank everyone for joining the Hearts and Hands Memorial effort.

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/185394

We now have over 6,000 members in the cause and will be forward with our plans.

We began filming the site to begin documenting the process.

As expected we have not heard back from Mayor Bloomberg but I did speak personally to Congressman McMahon, Senator Lanza and Councilman Ignizio about the plans this weekend.

We should have access to all our funds from HUD within the next few weeks.

Realistically we will need to show that we can raise $1 million from the private sector to support the project.

To that end we are asking each member of this cause to donate up to $25 in 2009.

We are also looking for 9/11 family groups to spread the word to other family members, elected officials and employers.

Corporate sponsorships will also be needed for this plan to succeed.

Formal fundraising plans are being developed and there will be ways for everyone to get involved at various levels.

We look forward to your participation and support.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Dennis

News from the World Trade Center Health Registry

2008 Report Now Available

We are pleased to announce the publication of our 2008 annual report. It is available at

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/wtc/downloads/pdf/registry/WTC_AnnualReport.pdf .

The report includes information on the Registry’s key activities and accomplishments for 2008, as well as details on recent findings about the health consequences of 9/11. It also includes 9/11 resource and service information for those affected by the disaster.

We hope you find this report informative and helpful.

Thank you for your continuing support.

Questions? Need more information? Contact us at (866) NYC-WTCR (866-692-9827) or wtchr@health.nyc.gov, or visit nyc.gov/9-11HealthInfo.

May 11, 2009

The Honorable Michael R. Bloomberg

Mayor of the City of New York

City Hall

New York, NY 10007

Dear Mayor Bloomberg,

Each day we read about additional delays and issues related to the redevelopment at Ground Zero. At this point in time it does not appear that it will be possible to have a fully completed memorial in place for the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Besides the fact that there are still many concerns related to the currently planned memorial not having it completed by September 11th 2011 would be yet another blow to the 9/11 families.

To that end we would like to once again make you aware of a 9/11 memorial we are currently planning for Staten Island. This memorial will provide a permanent home for the United in Memory 9/11 Victims Memorial Quilt. It will also include a 21,000 square foot memorial garden and a corridor of memories which include 8 x 10 photos of all 9/11 victims arranged in alphabetical order by affiliation. It will also allow family members to identify their loved ones as they wish under each photo.

We estimate the total cost of this memorial to be approximately $6.5 million most of which will go to the restoration of an abandoned complex on the Seaview Rehabilitation campus on Staten Island. We have already received a $457,000 start up grant from Senators Schumer and Clinton. We also have a commitment from Senator Lanza and are working with Congressman McMahon’ office and our state and city representatives to secure additional funding.

We are currently finishing up paperwork with HUD and hope to begin work on actual renovation of the facility during this summer.

We are requesting your assistance with this project, which has the support of almost all of the 9/11 family groups, and will deliver many of the elements requested by family members which due to space and other restrictions are not included in the current memorial plans.

We are asking that you consider supporting this effort as it will compliment the memorial at Ground Zero by providing a peaceful and serene space for us to honor those lost on 9/11.

With your support we will be able to get this completed well in advance of the 10th anniversary.

This effort will also support your recent call to the support of volunteerism as much of this work will be provided by volunteers already committed to this project. We also envision the completed memorial to be staffed by senior and student volunteers.

As mayor and president of the WTC Memorial Foundation we hope that you will seriously consider partnering with us to bring this project to fruition.

We will be available to discuss this further at your convenience to answer any of your questions or to address any of your concerns.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Dennis McKeon

Executive Director

cc:

Senator Charles Schumer

Congressman Michael McMahon

Borough President James Molinaro

Senator Andrew Lanza

Senator Diane Savino

Assemblyman Michael Cusick

Assemblywoman Janele Hyer-Spencer

Assemblyman Matthew Titone

Assemblyman Lou Tobacco

Councilman James Oddo

Councilman Vincent Ignizio

Councilman Ken Mitchell

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