All of us at VOICES hope you had a peaceful holiday. Many of the family members I have spoken with have shared they found this year more difficult, while others have mentioned they found it easier, but are still relieved the holidays are behind us. For all of us the holidays are a time to reflect and remember our loved ones. This week, the tragic deaths in the mining accident were emotionally difficult for many 9/11 families. Our thoughts are with all the families and friends who are facing this terrible loss. We have included information below about a prayer service at Ground Zero at noon tomorrow for the miners.

As we begin the New Year and approach the fifth anniversary, VOICES will continue providing resources for all those impacted by 9/11. Our support groups, both in-person and teleconference, are available to all of you. Click here for a schedule of our upcoming support groups. Those participating have mentioned how helpful it is to connect with other family members, survivors or rescue workers.  Our mental health professionals are also available for individual consultation toll-free at 866-505-3911, Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm. Our family liaison, Debbie Westfal is available to answer questions about 9/11 resources and service providers.

The New Year is an opportunity for all of us to make positive changes in our lives. VOICES has joined with the  Department Homeland Security to encourage all Americans to make a resolution to improve personal preparedness. This week we are offering information, including tips and links to resources, to get you started.

All of us at VOICES wish you and your family a peaceful 2006 and look forward to hearing from you.

Warm Regards,

At 12 noon tomorrow, Saturday January 7, 2006, 9/11 family members and others will gather at Ground Zero (Liberty & Church) to pray for the families of the West Virginia coal miners who perished this week. Prayers will also be offered for lone surviving miner Randal McCloy and his family. Prayers will also be offered for stricken Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, his family and all people of the Middle East ...More

January 13, 2006
Time: 1:00 PM
Place: United States Courthouse Judge Hellerstein's Courtroom
500 Pearl Street, New York City

WTC Families for Proper Burial asks all family members and friends to attend the screening of a 26-minute film on the removal of debris to Fresh Kills next Friday at 1pm. The Families are required to watch the film as part of their ongoing lawsuit to ensure a respectful burial place for the unidentified remains at Fresh Kills. It is important that as many people as possible attend the screening to show their support for the efforts of WTC Families for Proper Burial.

The bidding competition for the first phase of construction at the WTC 9/11 Memorial has begun. "This is the first bid package for the actual construction of the memorial," Gov. George E. Pataki said yesterday in a New York Times Article that details the construction plans for the Memorial. Pataki added: "It's a critical milestone, and it means we are on time for the beginning of construction in March." Pataki said the memorial would be finished by Sept. 11, 2009. A floor plan of the Memorial based on the LMDC specifications is available on VOICES website by clicking on the graphic above..

According to the LMDC, Victims' relatives will be able to descend to bedrock level in a private elevator. They will find two rooms that are closed to the public: a 2,400-square-foot family room and a 360-square-foot viewing room looking into a climate-controlled storage chamber for unidentified remains. Details on the family viewing area are available in an Associated Press article from yesterday. The NYC chief medical examiner's office will be able to retrieve remains for further forensic examination as DNA-based identification techniques improve, according to Anna Papageorge of the LMDC.

The recently released WTC Memorial Design has been criticized by 9/11 Family Members for failing to fully preserve the footprints of the Twin Towers, and because the fountains on ground level of the design “Reflecting Absence” will be shut off during the winter months. In the NY Times article, Anthony Gardner, executive director of the World Trade Center United Family Group said that if they were preserved uninterrupted, "The remains of the footprints could speak to people thousands of years from now." Mr. Gardner and Patricia Reilly, a fellow founder of Take Back the Memorial Coalition, outlined their objections to the Memorial plans in a NY Daily News OP-ED this week.

The Red Cross has brought a new independent scholarship to our attention, and we are pleased to pass details of this exciting opportunity on to the families. We are spotlighting the Kikkoman Foods Foundation Children and Spouses' Post Secondary Education Scholarship Fund for Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania families. Kikkoman Foods Foundation established the Fund for individuals who will matriculate at the post secondary level in the fall of 2006. Eight scholarships are available to those affected by the September 11 attack on the Pentagon and the Shanksville air disaster. This includes individuals seriously injured as well as the children, stepchildren, and spouses of individuals killed or seriously injured. These scholarships may be used for all post high school education. If you are eligible, please visit the scholarship website for additional information and an application.

Voices of September 11th is joining the Department of Homeland Security’s Ready America initiative in urging all American to make a resolution to enhance their preparedness measures in the new year. It is more important than ever for individuals, families and communities to assess their preparedness levels and make comprehensive plans in the event of a terrorist attack or natural disaster. Small measures taken in advance of an emergency situation can save lives later on. We urge you to visit VOICES “Preparedness Begins at Home Page” to help get started. The page offers a list of daily tips to help you accomplish the four major steps in disaster preparedness:

Step one; visit our website or Ready.gov for a checklist to prepare an Emergency Kit. The kit should contain items such as clean water and food, glow sticks, and first-aid supplies. Step two; make an Emergency Plan with your family outlining contact procedures and a safe place to meet in the wake of a disaster. Also, encourage your employer to implement a plan at your workplace. Step three; continue to visit the government and non-profit resources listed on VOICES Preparedness Page to learn new information and effective readiness strategies. Step four; help ensure your community has a comprehensive disaster plan by working with local officials and helping neighbors with their preparedness measures. We’re here to help you, so contact VOICES if we can be of any assistance.

The program that provides federal homeland security grants to U.S. cities is undergoing changes that could reduce the funds available for terrorism prevention. According to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, the grants would now be based on risk of a devastating natural disaster as well as for terrorist attacks. According to a DHS planning document quoted in a recent Associated Press article, cities will be given grants to respond to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, as well as health threats like pandemic influenza.

The cities will only be given grants if they can show that their measures also protect against terrorist attacks. For example the government would give a grant for bird flu preparedness that would also help protect a city in the case of a biological or chemical terrorist attack. Some have criticized the change because it could potentially shortchange top terrorism targets such as Los Angeles and New York. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a New York Sun article: "I think we should keep monies for the risks of terrorism and the risks of natural disaster separate," adding that the amount of money earmarked for natural disasters should be in addition to anti-terrorism funding, not a part of it. New York Congressman Anthony Weiner added: “Homeland Security funding should protect against terrorism, not for any other purpose,” in the AP article.

The total amount available for the urban grants in 2006 is $765 million, down from $829 million in 2005. The largest share in 2005 was $207 million for New York; the smallest was $5 million to Louisville, Ky. For the second straight year, Connecticut’s cities were left off the list of 35 urban areas eligible for the program this year, down from 50 in 2005. "Connecticuters rightfully view themselves as within the area that could be hit by the next terrorist attack and yet they receive only minimal assistance to defend against and prepare for that day," Senator Joseph Lieberman said in a separate AP article Wednesday.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:
www.voicesofsept11.org

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