Memorial Day is an opportunity for us to remember those who have given their lives in service to our country. We at Voices of September 11th would like to offer our prayers for the families of the servicemen and women who have died serving in Iraq and Afghanistan along with our hopes that those stationed overseas will soon return home safely.

Also, we are reminding all 9/11 families that May 31 is the final deadline for Jewelry claims to be filed with the New York City Police Department's Property Clerk Division. The goal of the Property Clerk is to return all items lost as a result of the World Trade Center disaster to the rightful owner. As of now, approximately 650 pieces of jewelry are being held. If you have not yet submitted your claim form on behalf of yourself or a loved one, please visit their website .

All of us at VOICES wish you and your families a safe Memorial Day Weekend.

Warm Regards,

Mary Fetchet

Warm Regards,

Mary Fetchet

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has come under increasing fire in the past week from critics, some within the government itself, who say the bureau is wasteful, unresponsive, and failing in the job it was created to do: keep America safe.

A series of articles from the Washington Post details many of the criticisms leveled at DHS recently, including inefficient contracting, lax border control and what many groups believe is wasteful allocation of resources to the states. Click here to read the Post's investigative reporting about DHS, and comments on the report from Clark Kent Ervin, former Department of Homeland Security Inspector General.

On Wednesday, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued three reports critical of DHS for not adequately inspecting cargo and containers headed for the United States from foreign seaports, and cybersecurity lapses that leave vital information infrastructure open to attack.

In an attempt to reform Homeland Security, lawmakers have recently introduced two bills intended to allocate more resources to areas considered most at risk for a terrorist attack and to provide "faster and better funding for first responders." The Senate bill, S.1013, has been reported out of the Homeland Security Committee, and H.R.1544 has passed the House of Representatives and been referred to the Senate. Please click on the bills for more information. Both resolutions enjoy bipartisan support and should become law soon. Keep informed on new developments about Homeland Security on our website.

Diane and Kurt Horning, co-founders of WTC Families for Proper Burial and family members from their New York Chapter have been working diligently to make sure all remains are removed from the Fresh Kills landfill site for a proper burial. VOICES joins them in encouraging everyone to support a bill currently before the NY State Legislature mandating that remains are “placed in a respectful and dignified memorial/cemetery to be determined by the Governors of NY and NJ.”

Please read a letter from our friends at WTC Families for Proper Burial, New York Chapter on this important issue. Residents of New York State should contact their local Representative or Senator using this form to make their feelings known. Addresses are available for the NYS Assembly and Senate. For more information, please read a news article from the Staten Island Advance and a supportive editorial from The Journal News.

Established to assist children, spouses or domestic partners of those who died or were permanently disabled or victims permanently disabled as a direct result of the September 11th attacks. Scholarships are offered for full or part-time in finance, economics, accounting or business ethics majors at an accredited institution.

Phone: Shellee Hintz, 507-931-0408 or 800-537-4180
Email: cfainstitute@scholarshipamerica.org
Website: www.cfainstitute.scholarshipamerica.org

The World Trade Center Permanency Project has put together a directory of services available in NYC by agencies working with the 9/11 impacted population. The guide includes complete information (names, contact info and services rendered) about organizations providing social services, education, recreation, public benefits, legal resources, mental health and health care clinics in all 5 boroughs.

For a copy, contact: Joann Buttaro, NY Council on Adoptable Children
212.475.0222 x212 or jbuttaro@coac.org

The City of Bayonne, New Jersey's "Harbor View Park" will be the home of Bayonne's September 11th Memorial "To The Struggle Against World Terrorism," pictured at left. The Memorial sculpture was designed by world-renowned artist Zurab Tsereteli and donated to Bayonne by the people of Russia. The Memorial will have a direct line of sight to the WTC site across Upper New York Bay.

The Park is currently under construction, and Bayonne is soliciting sponsors for 8" by 7" paving stones that can be customized. Each "paver" costs $50.00 and can be engraved with up to 78 characters. It is a wonderful way to support the Park while making a personal statement of patriotism, remembrance, or love. Click here to visit the City of Bayonne website for more information, or to order your own "paver."