 This Monday, VOICES joined thirteen other 9/11 family groups who came together for a "Take Back the Memorial" press conference and rally at Ground Zero. The event was to protest the International Freedom Center's (IFC) proposed placement at the 9/11 Memorial site. We believe the space set aside for the Memorial should focus solely on honoring the lives of those lost in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993. The IFC or other programs that are irrelevant to the events of 9/11 are inappropriate for the site. The chant we raised was: “9/11 Memorial Only.” Many reporters covered the rally and the issue has received substantial media attention. Please visit takebackthememorial.org to sign the petition to remove the IFC from Ground Zero. We will continue to advocate along with other family organizations to preserve the integrity of the memorial to honor our loved ones.
Next week we return to Washington for two very important 9/11 Public Discourse Project panels - "Our Greatest Challenge: Terrorism and WMD" on Monday and "Securing the Homeland" on Tuesday. We appreciate and support the Public Discourse Project's efforts to raise awareness about these vital issues and assess the progress of implementing necessary intelligence reforms.
Thank you to everyone who donated time and money to our Send-a-Bear program for the families of victims of the Beslan, Russia school siege last September. Senator Joseph Lieberman has arranged for VOICES to present the bears and cards to Russian officials at the Russian Embassy for distribution in Beslan. We will keep you updated on our bears’ journey of goodwill and other initiatives in our Building Bridges project on our website.
Finally, we want to congratulate all the families who are celebrating graduations this month. Knowing that graduations can be a difficult time for our families, Dr. Robin Goodman has included thoughts on what can be a bittersweet occasion below.
Warm Regards,
Mary Fetchet
 Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction
On Monday, the 9/11 Public Discourse Project (PDP) will hold its third panel discussion on terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. This event will address what many feel to be the greatest threat facing our nation: a weapon of mass destruction in the hands of terrorists. Former Senator Sam Nunn will be a featured panelist for this discussion. Over the past decade, he and Senator Richard Lugar have vigorously worked to raise awareness of the need for a serious and committed nuclear threat reduction program. Read a transcript from their appearance on Meet the Press along with 9/11 Commissioners Thomas Cain and Lee Hamilton.
Timothy J. Roemer, a former member of the 9/11 Commission and current member of the PDP, will moderate this discussion. Roemer is currently president of the Center for National Policy (CNP) and a distinguished scholar at George Mason University. For twelve years, Roemer served in the U.S. House of Representatives where he was the key author of the legislation to establish the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. Please view a flyer for Monday’s panel for a complete list of panelists and topics.
 Securing the Homeland
On Tuesday, the 9/11 PDP will hold another panel discussion, this one on efforts to secure the homeland. The panelists will evaluate the progress made thus far in national preparedness, border security, and transportation security, and also discuss what remains to be done. This panel will be moderated by Bob Kerrey, a former member of the 9/11 Commission and current member of the PDP. Kerrey is currently the President of New School University in New York City. He served two terms in the U.S. Senate and one term as the Governor of Nebraska. Please view a flyer for Tuesday’s panel.
For a complete list of PDP events, moderators and news, please click here.
A reminder that VOICES has added several new support groups and teleconference groups for fathers, parents, adult siblings and spouses of victims; as well as Californians, and others. All groups are provided at no cost to participants but registration is required. Please call VOICES at 866-505-3911 or visit the support group section of our website for more information.
By Robin F. Goodman, Ph.D.
Caps and gowns are in abundance in June – seen on everyone from preschoolers as they participate in their moving up celebrations to high school and college students who are embarking on new phases of life. The graduation rite of passage signifies the completion of a set of accomplishments and the beginning of new challenges. The transition from what has been comfortable and familiar to the unknown can be exciting yet bring on some uneasiness. For families in which a loved one died on September 11th, a graduation can be a bittersweet event. While others may be filled with joy, the graduate and family members who are missing someone special may be surprised by an array of emotions – you may feel angry at not being able to share the day with a significant person, resentful of others who did not endure the tragedy of 9/11, or proud of children moving on. However, it is important to celebrate what has been achieved, especially under such difficult circumstances. Graduations mark how far one has come and all the effort required to reach a goal. The following are some things to keep in mind:
- Take stock of the graduate’s academic and emotional achievement. It is a time to congratulate one another for doing what was needed to reach this point.
- If possible, find a way to include the person who died in some meaningful way. It might be having a favorite food of the person who died or recalling a story related to school – cheering the graduate on during a team game or even fighting over homework.
- Take the time to thank those in your support network – teachers, coaches, friends, family, neighbors - who were particularly helpful in your reaching this milestone.
- Look in all directions.
- Take the time to look back to remember days together with loved ones.
- Look at the here and now to appreciate important relationships and even small day-to-day achievements.
- Look towards the future considering the needs of different individuals in the family.
- Help the graduate take the next steps. When moving to a new school or when meeting new friends, children and teens can benefit from thinking ahead about how to handle private information and answer questions about 9/11.
- It can be helpful to find personal meaning in 9/11, perhaps thinking of a ways to remember or honor the person that died. Such meaning can take different forms; volunteering at an organization that was important to the person who died, following through on a commitment to a parent who always believed in the value of education.
It is natural to be sad and upset on happy occasions when you long to share it with those who have died. Hopefully there are now more bright days than dark, but there is no particular graduation from grief. Understand that throughout life, during times of celebration or even at unexpected times during a routine day, difficult feelings will resurface. Give yourself permission to experience the feelings, realizing the pain is a reminder of the person’s place in your heart.
Jeannie Ammermann
Days after 9/11, Jeannie Ammermann and a small group of friends founded America ’s 9/11 Memorial Quilts Organization. The hope was to memorialize those lost on 9/11in a “compassionate and uplifting way, with great respect, dignity and honor,” according to Teresa Jahn, a member of the organization. Today, more than 470 people from around the country are working on nine handcrafted quilts to represent FDNY, EMS, NYPD, NY/NJ Port Authority Police and Staff, NY State Court, Flight 93, Pentagon, and all the victims of 9/11. Jeannie is hoping to include photos of every victim on the quilts, along with symbolic words and images. Please click here to view a listing of all those who are not yet placed on the quilt. If your loved one is not included, consider sending a photograph to this inspiring tribute.
June 24, 2005
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly pleaded with Congress yesterday to help big-city police departments like the NYPD get better access to federal intelligence on terrorism... More
June 23, 2005
The U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) today called on the organizations that develop building and fire safety codes, standards and practices... More
June 22, 2005
Stephen King heard bodies slamming down on the awning of the World Trade Center 's North Tower with the rhythm of bursting popcorn kernels. It was a soundtrack of horror on Sept. 11, 2001, as King, New York City 's fire chief for safety, directed evacuation operations in the North Tower ... More
June 22, 2005
The city councilman who represents Ground Zero yesterday called for a halt of the controversial International Freedom Center planned for the World Trade Center site because of concerns voiced by outraged 9/11 families... More
June 21, 2005
Chanting, "9/11 memorial only," about 200 relatives of those who died in the terrorist attack gathered at ground zero yesterday to express anger over a proposed museum at the site... More
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:
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America ’s 9/11 Memorial Quilts
