March 17, 2009

Dear Families and Friends,

We are continuing to make progress on the 9/11 Living Memorial Project through our outreach to families throughout the tri-state area.  Last month Keefe, Bruyette and Woods hosted a reception at their Midtown office that provided an opportunity for us to meet with their 9/11 families and employees. Through our partnership with KBW, we are able to ensure that the lives of their employees and those who survived are documented in the 9/11 Living Memorial. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to John Duffy, KBW Chairman and CEO, and his leadership team for their support.  A special thanks to Jackie Day for coordinating our efforts.  
 
On Saturday, March 7th I attended Beverly Eckert’s memorial service, along with many other 9/11 family members who traveled from Washington, DC and the tri-state area. It was fitting that the service was held at Julia A. Stark School in Stamford, CT, where Beverly volunteered her time tutoring students.  Very moving tributes were given by 9/11 family members Carol Ashley (click here to view Carol's remarks), Rosemary Dillard (click here to view Rosemary's remarks) and former Congressman Christopher Shays.  Their remarks and the presence of so many 9/11 family members caused me to reflect about how intertwined our lives are and how our shared loss translated into passionate campaigns for making a difference.  We were there collectively to honor her life, but also to support one another.  After Beverly's death, a friend forwarded me this verse which conveys the importance of remembering the simple ways that people touch our lives which sustain us in times of difficulty:

  
“We do not always realize that among the best things we give each other are good memories, kind words, signs of affection, gestures of sympathy, peaceful silences, and joyful celebrations.  At the time, they may all have seemed obvious, simple, and without many consequences, but as memories they can save us in the midst of confusion, fear, and darkness.”  (Henry J. M. Nouwen)

Warm Regards,

VOICES Programs and events

9/11 Living Memorial Workshop Schedule

VOICES is commemorating each and every life impacted by the September 11th terrorist attacks—including those who were lost, those who survived, and those who came to the rescue—through the 9/11 Living Memorial. We are hoping all those affected will participate. We hold workshops throughout the tri-state area; scheduled workshops are listed below. It is also possible to arrange a workshop in your neighborhood. To learn more, or to register for a workshop, please contact Michelle Doherty at (203) 966-3911 or mdoherty@voicesofsept11.org. You can also visit www.911livingmemorial.org. 

KBW, New York
Date: Thursday, March 19th for KBW families & employees
Time: 10:00am to 5:00pm by Appointment
Location: Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, 787 7th Avenue, Fourth Floor, New York, NY

New Brunswick, New Jersey
Date: Thursday, March 26th
Time: 11:00am to 5:00pm by Appointment
Location: New Brunswick Development Corporation, 120 Albany Street, Tower 1, 7th Floor, New Brunswick, New Jersey

Forest Hills, New York
Date: Tuesday, April 7th
Time: 1:00pm to 5:00pm by Appointment
Location: Forest Hills Library, 108-91 71st Avenue, Forest Hills, NY 11375

KBW, New York
Date: Thursday, April 23rd for KBW families & employees
Time: 10:00am to 5:00pm by Appointment
Location: Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, 787 7th Avenue, Fourth Floor, New York, NY

New Brunswick, New Jersey
Date: Thursday, April 30th
Time: 11:00am to 5:00pm by Appointment
Location: New Brunswick Development Corporation, 120 Albany Street, Tower 1, 7th Floor, New Brunswick, New Jersey

KBW, New York
Date: Thursday, May 21st for KBW families & employees
Time: 10:00am to 5:00pm by Appointment
Location: Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, 787 7th Avenue, Fourth Floor, New York, NY

Manhasset, New York
Date: Thursday, June 18th
Time: 11:00am to 5:00pm by Appointment
Location: Manhasset Public Library, 30 Onderdonk Avenue, Manhasset, NY

Teleconference Schedule:

Voices of September 11th offers teleconference groups that are facilitated by our mental health professionals. The teleconference groups provide an opportunity for those impacted by 9/11 to talk with others that share their same experience. Please contact our office at (203) 966-3911 if you are interested in participating.

Tuesday, March 17th: Wives with No or Older Children Teleconference Group 10:30am to 11:30am

Tuesday, March 17th: Parents Tuesday PM Teleconference Group 3:45pm to 5:00pm

Tuesday, March 24th: Witness/Survivor Teleconference Group 11:00am to 12:00pm

Tuesday, March 24th: Rockland County Parents In-Person Group 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Community Events

Sunday, May 3, 2009

The 3rd annual “Captain Martin J. Egan, Jr. 5K Memorial Run/Walk”

The 3rd annual “Captain Martin J. Egan, Jr. 5K Memorial Run/Walk” will take place at 10:00 am on May 3, 2009 at the Midland Beach Picnic Area (Father Capodanno Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue, Staten Island, NY). Applications are available at The Staten Island Runner www.sirunning.com. For more information, please call (718) 710-1944. 

In the News

FY 2009 Spending Bill Includes $70 Million for 9/11 Health Programs

President Obama has signed an appropriations bill that includes $70 million for 9/11 health programs. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) said that passage of the bill “will ensure that we can continue, without interruption, to monitor and treat first responders and community members living with 9/11-related illnesses.” Learn more at Rep. Nadler’s web site. In a related development, the Daily News has written an editorial on trial dates set by a New York judge for workers who believe they became ill as a result of 9/11 rescue and recovery operations. To read the opinion, visit the Daily News.

Exhibit Explores 9/11’s Impact on Immigrants

The Tribute WTC Visitors Center has a new exhibit that explores the effects of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on immigrant communities. Entitled "Renewing our American Dream after 9/11," the show will run through October near Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan.  To learn more, visit the Tribute WTC Visitors Center.

Rebuilding 9/11 Site Will Create Jobs

The owners of the World Trade Center site, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, are projecting that 26,000 new jobs and $3.7 billion will be created from construction at the site, which is scheduled through 2016. Read more at Forbes.com.

Beverly Eckert Remembered in Hometown of Stamford, CT

9/11 activist Beverly Eckert, who died when Flight 3407 crashed in Buffalo, NY last month, was honored by family, friends, colleagues and neighbors at a memorial service in her hometown of Stamford CT on March 7. Hundreds of people came to pay their respects at the Julia A. Stark School, where Ms. Eckert had volunteered as a tutor in the months before her death. Indeed, many acts of generosity and volunteerism were recalled during the service, for the 9/11 community and for other causes as well. Read more at the Stamford Advocate.

$500 Million Settlement in 9/11 Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Cases

A $500 million settlement has been reached regarding over 90 wrongful death and personal injury claims related to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Only three suits now remain to be settled. The lawsuits—against airlines, airport security firms and associated companies—were filed by people who did not participate in the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund instituted by Congress. For a summary of the story visit Reuters. For an in-depth discussion, particularly regarding how these settlements compare to compensation provided by the Victim Compensation Fund, visit the National Law Journal.

Craig Fugate to Lead FEMA
President Obama has chosen Craig Fugate to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Fugate has served as director of Florida's Division of Emergency Management since 2001. To learn more, visit GovernmentExecutive.com.

Budget Proposal Includes Increase for DHS

President Obama’s first budget proposal, for Fiscal Year 2010, allocates $42.7 billion in discretionary budget authority for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—a figure that is six percent higher than the budget President Bush requested. Read more at HS Today.

Guantanamo Analysis

The Village Voice has written a detailed article on issues surrounding the controversial detention center at Guantanamo. To read their analysis, visit the Village Voice web site.