Sat. Sept 16 Colleen M. Supinski Annual 5K Run/Walk Time: 9AM Location: Notre Dame HS, Easton, PA Visit Website
Thur. Sept. 20 The 2nd Annual Salute to Firefighters presented by Adam's Angels Time:7:00pm Location: Saloon NYC, 1584 York Avenue (b/w 83rd and 84th streets), New York, NY
Thurs. Nov. 8 The 6th Annual Cocktail Reception of the Mark Hindy Charitable Foundation Time: 6:30pm Location: The El Caribe Country Club, 5945 Strickland Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209 Info: 718-238-1798 Visit Website
Visit our new VOICES for Kids site. With the addition of the children’s website, VOICES fills a need to keep all citizens – from our youngest to those caring for them – educated, able to communicate their thoughts and feelings, and reminded that they are not alone in a post 9/11 world.
AUGUST 10, 2007
DEAR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS,
Invitations to this year’s VOICES “Preserving 9/11” September 10th Forum and September 11th Commemorative Luncheon were sent out last week. Many family members have called this week to register for both events. I’d like to remind you that space is limited for the luncheon, so be sure to make your reservations early.
In the coming weeks we will be sending our quarterly newsletter with a detailed schedule of events. In the meantime, we want to inform you that the September 10th forum will begin at 10:30am to allow for a private presentation by representatives from the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office. The presentation will provide 9/11 families with an update on the search and identification of remains. NYC ME’s staff will also be available throughout the day to make ID cards that will grant access for families to 9/11 events and update your contact information.
Yesterday the Coalition of 9/11 Families met with Mayor Bloomberg to discuss concerns about the NYC 6th Anniversary Ceremony. In a meeting with the Mayor, the Coalition was able to reach an agreement that will allow family members to briefly descend below grade to lay flowers and say a prayer. We at VOICES commend the efforts of all those involved in the effort to allow access to the WTC site on this sacred day.
One of our goals at VOICES is to continue to honor those lost on September 11th through our 9/11 Living Memorial digital archive. In this week’s newsletter we are featuring several beautiful 9/11 Memorials dedicated in Israel. Often we forget that Americans were not the only victims of the horrific attacks of September 11th. Among the many foreign citizens who lost their lives, were five Israeli’s who are remembered around the world and recognized in their homeland. Please take a few moments to visit our International Memorials section of the 9/11 Living Memorial site to explore these memorials that honor our friends abroad. A special thanks to Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Dov Shefi, father of Hagay Shefi who provided us with this information.
Warm Regards,
Mary Fetchet
Founding Director
VOICES PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
VOICES "Preserving 9/11" Forum and Exhibits Preliminary Schedule
Invitations to this year's Sixth Anniversary Commemorative Events were mailed to our members today. We are pleased to announce an exciting preliminary schedule of events focused on the 9/11 Living Memorial project.
Click here to download a PDF file of the preliminary schedule for the September 10th "Preserving 9/11" Forum and Exhibits.
America and her people were not the only ones attacked on September 11th. Passengers on the planes and in the Twin Towers who held foreign citizenship numbered over 100 and represented over thirty countries. Those lost on September 11th are remembered across the world as well, recognized in their homelands as heroes. Five Israeli citizens died in the 9/11 attacks: Alona Abraham, Leon Lebor, Shai Levinhar, Danny Lewin, and Hagi Shefey. Lewin, a former Israeli Special Forces soldier traveling on Flight 11, is beleived to have valiently resisted the hijackers until he was overcome and killed. The sacrifices of all five are honored here as well as in Israel.
The 9/11 Living Memorial recently added a number of 9/11 memoriasl erected in Israel. Most are public squares where citizens can rest and remember those lost. The photo above shows the beautiful "D Quarter" Park in Ashdod. At left, a memorial stone graces the Neve Monoson public garden in Yehud. Visit the International Memorials section of the 9/11 Living Memorial to explore these Israeli memorials as well as memorials in Ireland, Korea, Poland, Italy, England, Germany and Australia. To add a memorial in your home town to the 9/11 Living Memorial please contact us.
EVENTS AND INFORMATION FOR THE 9/11 COMMUNITY
Families Will Have Access to Ground Zero on Sept. 11
9/11 family members will have limited, controlled access to the pit at Ground Zero on September 11th while the official City commemorative events take place at nearby Zuccotti Park. In a compromise negotiated yesterday with Mayor Mike Bloomberg, family members will be able to descend a ramp into the pit in a single file stream, pause briefly to touch bedrock or lay flowers, and then ascend back to street level. Mayor Bloomberg said in a statement: "At today's meeting, the families proposed a very limited and controlled level of access to the below grade, and after consulting with the Port Authority, we've been told that this type of access can work." Families will have access for several hours to accomodate individual schedules. Read more on VOICES website.
Bikers Ride Again in Remembrance and Support
Next weekend, the Memorial Motorcycle Ride hosted by America's 9/11 Foundation will rumble once more in remembrance of those lost on 9/11. Over the past six years, the motorcycle community has come together time and again to support the heroes of 9/11 and those they left behind. To date the foundation has awarded more than $170,000 to first responders including police officers, firefighters and emergency management responders in departments throughout the northeast.
The three-day tour begins in Shanksville, PA and takes riders down to the Pentagon and then back up the I-95 corridor to the World Trade Center site. A detailed itinerary is available on the foundation's web site for riders who wish to join the tour in progress or those who wish to support it. Riders are asked to donate $100 to support the foundation's scholarship fund and other intitives. This year a tribute chopper entitled "The Day After" (above) is being offered as a raffle prize for $10 per ticket. Information about the motorcycle ride and the purchase of raffle tickets is on the Web site. Read more in New Jersey News-Transcript coverage.
VOICES Website UPDATES
Preparedness Update
August 8, 2007FEMA Asks "Are You Ready"
Wondering if you are adequately prepared for a natural disaster or terrorist attack? The Federal Emergency Management Agency publishes "Are You Ready?" An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness. The book is FEMA’s most comprehensive source on individual, family, and community preparedness.
"Are You Ready?" provides a step-by-step approach to disaster preparedness by walking the reader through how to get informed about local emergency plans, how to identify hazards that affect their local area, and how to develop and maintain an emergency communications plan and disaster supplies kit. Other topics covered include evacuation, emergency public shelters, animals in disaster, and information specific to people with disabilities. Visit the FEMA website for information on how to order the book, or to download it directly as a PDF file. Read more in VOICES Preparedness Updates section.
August 8, 2007Congress Urges Bush to Share Continuity Plan
Another potential conflict between the White House and Congress is brewing over the President's plans for continuity of government in case of a disaster or terrorist attack on the nation's capital. Continuity plans have been required since the development of intercontinental nuclear weapons. But new plans based on no advance warning have been developed because of the element of surprise in terrorist attacks. President Bush ordered a new plan on May 9th and will only share its classified elements with Congressional leaders, not the full Homeland Security committee which claims jurisdiction over continuity planning. Read more in VOICES Preparedness Updates section.
Legislative Update
August 9, 2007CIA To Release 9/11 Report
A provision of the recently passed 9/11 bill will force the CIA to release a long secret internal accounting of its performance prior to the terrorist attacks. The agency has 30 days to release a declassified version to the public, and will send Congress a classified annex that explains the report’s redactions, according to the law signed by President Bush last week. Until now, the CIA had refused to disclose any part of the report since its former inspector general (IG), John Helgerson, completed the final draft more than two years ago. Helgerson's report is more critical of the agency than the 9/11 Commission’s 2004 report. It is believed to single out high level officials for contributing to internal failings including CIA Director George Tenet, former Deputy Director of Operations James Pavitt, and former CIA Counterterrorism Center Chief Cofer Black. All have since left the agency. Read more in VOICES Legislative Update.
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.
Invitations to this year's Sixth Anniversary Commemorative Events were mailed to our members today. We are pleased to announce an exciting preliminary schedule of events focused on the 9/11 Living Memorial project. 
America and her people were not the only ones attacked on September 11th. Passengers on the planes and in the Twin Towers who held foreign citizenship numbered over 100 and represented over thirty countries. Those lost on September 11th are remembered across the world as well, recognized in their homelands as heroes. Five Israeli citizens died in the 9/11 attacks: Alona Abraham, Leon Lebor, Shai Levinhar, Danny Lewin, and Hagi Shefey. Lewin, a former Israeli Special Forces soldier traveling on Flight 11, is beleived to have valiently resisted the hijackers until he was overcome and killed. The sacrifices of all five are honored here as well as in Israel. 
The 9/11 Living Memorial recently added a number of 9/11 memoriasl erected in Israel. Most are public squares where citizens can rest and remember those lost. The photo above shows the beautiful "D Quarter" Park in Ashdod. At left, a memorial stone graces the Neve Monoson public garden in Yehud. Visit the International Memorials section of the 9/11 Living Memorial to explore these Israeli memorials as well as memorials in Ireland, Korea, Poland, Italy, England, Germany and Australia. To add a memorial in your home town to the 9/11 Living Memorial please 
Next weekend, the Memorial Motorcycle Ride hosted by America's 9/11 Foundation will rumble once more in remembrance of those lost on 9/11. Over the past six years, the motorcycle community has come together time and again to support the heroes of 9/11 and those they left behind. To date the foundation has awarded more than $170,000 to first responders including police officers, firefighters and emergency management responders in departments throughout the northeast. 