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Upcoming Events:

Sat. March 3
The Sean Caton Memorial Foundation Event: 6th Annual Mardi Gras Ball
Time: 7pm

Location: Grand Ballroom Park Ridge Marriott Park Ridge, NJ

Dinner, Dancing, Auction
$135.00 per person
RSVP February 25, 2007
www.seancaton.com

Thur. March 22
The Tower Of Hope Fundraising Gala: "Lighting the Path"
Location: Puck Building's Sky Ballroom
$150 in advance and $175 at the door.
www.thetowerofhope.org

Sun. March 26
“Life Skills Through Horses”
Time: 10am to 12pm, rain or shine
Location: New Canaan Mounted Troop, Inc.
22 Carter Street
New Canaan, CT 06840
Contact: (203) 966-0634

Thur. March 29
Documenting the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center Attacks—Five Years On
Time: 9 am to 4:30 pm
Location: SPCS Woolworth Conference Center, 15 Barclay St., NYC
Cost: $15 includes box lunch
Read more

Sat. March 31

9/11 Living Memorial Workshop
Time: 1pm to 4pm
Location: Ridgewood Public Library, 125 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ

VOICES Programs and Events:

March 2, 2007

DEAR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS,

I would like to thank all of you who contacted your Senators this week. Your calls and letters helped influence their decision to protect the bill S.4 from unrelated amendments. We feel strongly that this legislation to fully implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations must be considered separately from issues related to the war in Iraq. We have provided an update below on the Senate debate and the White House’s rebuttal to the legislation.

This past Monday I had the privilege of meeting with the families and friends of those who perished in the 1993 WTC bombing. As I learned more about their personal stories, I was inspired by their strength and the close community which they have sustained over the past fourteen years. Reflecting on the day, I was struck by the common bond we share, and I am firmly committed to ensuring that their stories are documented alongside ours in the 9/11 Living Memorial. In this week’s e-Newsletter, we feature the temporary 1993 memorial which incorporates a fragment of the original memorial which was destroyed in the attacks on September 11, 2001.

As always, please feel free to contact our office if we can be of any assistance.

Our best wishes to you and your families,

Mary Fetchet

Founding Director

VOICES PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Save The Date: New 9/11 Living Memorial Workshops Added

*NEW* In Westchester

9/11 Living Memorial Workshop

Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Location: Larchmont Yacht Club
1 Woodbine Avenue, Larchmont, NY

*NEW* In Long Island

9/11 Living Memorial Workshop

Thursday, April 19, 2007
Two sessions: 12:30pm to 3pm
and 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Location: WTC Family Center
2277 Grand Avenue, Baldwin, NY

*TIME CHANGE* In New Jersey

9/11 Living Memorial Workshop

Saturday, March 31, 2007

*New* Time: 1:30pm to 3:30pm

Location: Ridgewood Public Library, 125 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ

The program will include a brief presentation on the 9/11 Living Memorial (www.911livingmemorial.org) and opportunities to begin creating a Living Memorial Page with Debbie Westfal, family liaison for the 9/11 Living Memorial. Refreshments will be served. More details will be announced soon. Call or email Michelle Doherty toll free
(866) 505-3911 to register. To read about a previous workshop held in New Canaan, CT, please click here.

9/11 Living Memorial Feature

Temporary Memorial To 1993 WTC Bombing Victims

On February 26, 2005, the Port Authority of New York dedicated a temporary memorial to pay tribute to the victims of the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. The original granite memorial fountain honoring the six people who perished in the 1993 WTC bombing was destroyed on 9/11. It's inscription read:

"On February 26, 1993, a bomb set by terrorists exploded below this site. This horrible act of violence killed innocent people, injured thousands, and made victims of us all."

After 9/11, a fragment of the original memorial bearing part of the name of one of the victims was recovered from the pile. The fragment is preserved in the interim memorial, a 9-foot, stainless steel pylon that evokes the memory of the Twin Towers. The temporary memorial was designed by Port Authority Senior Architect Jacqueline Hanley. It will remain in its current location on Liberty St. until the permanent memorial is opened at the World Trade Center site. The permanent memorial will honor both the victims of the 1993 and 2001 terrorist attacks. Visit the 9/11 Living Memorial page for the Temporary 1993 World Trade Center Bombing Memorial.

Action alert UPDATE

Senate Drops Iraq from Debate on 9/11 Reforms Legislation

The advocacy work of 9/11 families made a difference again this week when Senate leaders agreed to keep debate on the Iraq war out of their bill to implement remaining 9/11 Commission recommendations. In an open letter to the Senate, a group of family members wrote: "This legislation [known as the Improving America's Security Act or S.4] is too important to be politicized by the introduction of non-germane, controversial amendments ... particularly those related to Iraq," the letter said, as quoted in Congressional Quarterly coverage. Click here to read the full letter. The 9/11 family advocates attracted a fair amount of media attention, and several VOICES members, including Founding Director Mary Fetchet and Advisory Board Member Carol Ashley, were credited, in part, with the success of this effort. The Associated Press wrote: "Spurred by the families of Sept. 11 victims, Senate leaders tentatively agreed Tuesday to take up a measure that would tighten the nation's security and delay a contentious debate on Iraq until next month."

Debate over the legislation is still divisive, with Republican senators joining the White House in a threat to veto the legislation should it contain authorization for collective bargaining rights for Transportation Security Administration workers. Click here to read a statement of Bush Administration policy largely critical of S.4. VOICES remains firm in its position regarding the importance of this legislation in ensuring our safety. If progress is to be made, the security of the American people must transcend the hurdles of political infighting. Floor debate on S.4 will continue at least until early next week and is televised on C-SPAN 2. VOICES will continue to provide updates on this important subject, including how you can continue to make a positive difference. Click to visit information on S.4 from THOMAS.

EVENTS FOR 9/11 Community

9/11 Family Members, Friends, and Survivors Invited to Special Event

Sunday, April 1, 2007
Private Painting and Healing Event as part of Garden in Transit Program

Time: 12pm to 3pm

Location: 149 W. 32nd St.

Website: www.portraitsofhope.org

RSVP (yes only): Melanie@portraitsofhope.org

Highlights will include a silent art auction, refreshments, and live entertainment.

Garden in Transit is an incredible new project by the nonprofit organization Portraits of Hope. Merging the best of healing arts with public art, thousands of participants at hospitals, schools, and community institutions will paint vibrant flowers symbolizing life, beauty, hope, joy, inspiration, and healing on weatherproof panels that will be installed on the rooftops, hoods, and trunks of New York’s iconic yellow cab creating a magnificent "garden in transit" for the NYC metered taxi's centennial in Fall 2007.

The project will create a massive beautification and visual rebirth of New York’s Cityscape. This new life has a unique meaning for those whose lives were touched most closely by the tragic events at the World Trade Center. We invite 9/11 survivors and the families and friends of victims to come and paint at a private healing event at our studio.

A special stamp will distinguish the artwork of honorees at this event in recognition of their special role in the Garden in Transit project.

GROUND ZERO UPDATE

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: www.voicesofsept11.org Copyright © 2006 Voices of September 11th. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. VOICES of September 11 th is a nonpartisan advocacy group . VOICES provides services and advocates for families and all those affected by September 11th; promotes public policy reform on prevention, preparedness and response to terrorism; and builds bridges between international communities changed by terrorism.