Dear 9/11 Family Members, First-Responders, Military Personnel, and all
concerned Americans,
Recently, members of several 9/11 family groups met with Mayor Bloomberg
and Mr. Joe Daniels of the National September 11 Memorial Museum
Foundation. During these meetings, which we are grateful to Mayor Bloomberg and Mr.
Daniels for hosting, we expressed the deep concerns that the overwhelming
majority of family members and many others still have regarding several key
issues with the Memorial and Museum.
We discussed numerous points regarding the Memorial and Museum such as
safety, it's underground location, displays that may contain human remains,
etc. However, the most critically time-sensitive issue discussed is how the
names of the victims will be listed on the 9/11 Memorial. We again stated
our position that the ranks of first responders and military personnel must
be listed preceding their names. Additionally, we reiterated our request
that the age of each victim be listed, and for non-uniformed victims, the
company and the floor where they worked. Unfortunately, our request for
this deserved recognition was again denied.
We realize that the way the victims are to be listed has improved somewhat
from the original design which offered only an underground, random name
format. Thanks to the efforts of The Advocates and others the name of each
victim will be listed at ground level, not seven stories below.
Additionally, first responders will be listed together under a department heading
along with their respective units. These have always been key components of
our long-standing request, but they are just part of a larger proposal that
was drawn up several years ago by the majority of civilian and
first-responder family groups after many months of hard work. This proposal was
delivered to Mayor Bloomberg, then Gov Pataki, and others charged with the
memorial's development. Unfortunately, it was largely ignored. To continue to
deny the ranks to first-responders and military personnel, and the age,
company, and floor number to all victims is an extremely disrespectful omission
and one that reduces them to mere names on a wall.
The current proposal is similar to the minimalist design of The Vietnam
Memorial where no ranks or branch of service are listed. Many find this
concept disrespectful and offensive and it should not be the model for the 9/11
Memorial at Ground Zero. Rather, the majority of family members and
Americans nationwide prefer a listing similar to that of such iconic structures
as the Pearl Harbor, Gettysburg, Normandy, and Pentagon 9/11 Memorials
where branch of service and rank are indicated. A memorial that fails for
instance to list Peter Ganci as FDNY Chief of Department, or Mychal Judge (an
ordained Catholic priest) as Father Mychal Judge, FDNY Chaplain, or Timothy
Maude as LT General, U.S. Army, is one that fails to tell the authentic
story of 9/11/01.Why should we have to descend 7 stories to the bowels of the
memorial and wait on line to access a kiosk, which may or may not work, to
see history recorded correctly with their ranks and titles? No one should
have the right to deny on a memorial such hard-earned designations to those
who died while
serving in those ranks. This memorial should be one that celebrates lives
and reflects on the absence of people, not one that celebrates waterfalls
and speaks to the absence of buildings.
We therefore request that all who recognize this egregious affront to
voice their deep concerns regarding these issues. Please write letters to the
editor of newspapers and contact other various media outlets and your
elected officials at the local, state and federal levels. Additionally, make
your opinions known directly to those at The National September 11
Memorial/Museum Foundation, to Governors Paterson and Corzine, and to Mayor
Bloomberg. Let them know that we remain deeply disturbed by the continual omission
of full and proper recognition for each precious soul lost on 9/11/01. We
also ask that such requests, while passionate and firm, are done in a
dignified and respectful fashion.
Hopefully, if we persist, the final version of The September 11, 2001
Memorial at The World Trade Center will appropriately reflect the wishes of the
families and the sacrifice that was made by so many on September 11, 2001.
And know it is our intention to follow up with further action and events
to achieve this goal.
Thank you all.
Sincerely,
Jim McCaffrey
LT/FDNY
Co-chair, Advocates for a 9/11 Fallen Heroes Memorial
Brother-in-law of B.C. Orio J. Palmer, Batt 7
(914) 482-0284
_jale...@hotmail.com_ (mailto:jale...@hotmail.com)
_www.9/11fallenheroes.org_ (http://www.9/11fallenheroes.org)
Rita and Jim Riches (DC/FDNY(ret)
Chairman, 9/11 Parents and Families of Firefighters
Parents of FF James Riches, E-4
(917) 692-1199
_fdny290...@aol.com_ (mailto:fdny290...@aol.com)
Rosaleen Tallon, Ed. D.
Family Liaison, Advocates for a 9/11 Fallen Heroes Memorial
Sister of FF Sean Tallon, L-10
Maureen and Al Santora, (DC/FDNY (ret)
9/11 Tribute Center Docents
9/11 Parents and Families of Firefighters
Parents of FF Christopher Santora, E-54
Sally and Al Regenhard
Skyscraper Safety Campaign
9/11 Parents and Families of Firefighters
Parents of FF Christian Regenhard, L-131
Joyce and Russell Mercer
Parents of FF Scott Kopytko, L-15
Rosemary Cain
Mother of George Cain, L-7
Professor Glenn Corbett
Chief Technical Advisor, Skyscraper Safety Campaign
Professor of Fire Science, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
PLEASE CONTACT:
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
311 or (212) 788-7418
_www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html_
(http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html)
Mr. Joe Daniels
(212) 312-8800
_i...@national911memorial.org_ (mailto:i...@national911memorial.org)
Governor David Paterson
(518) 474-8390
_www.ny.gov/governor/contact_ (http://www.ny.gov/governor/contact)
Governor Jon Corzine
(609) 292-6000
Senator Charles Schumer
(212) 486-4430
_www.schumer.senate.gov_ (http://www.schumer.senate.gov)
(http://www.schumer.senate.gov/)
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
(212) 688-6262
_www.gillibrand.senate.gov_ (http://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/)
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