May, 8, 2009

Dear Families and Friends,

Excitement is building for our second annual Always Remember Benefit which will be held June 8th at Pier Sixty in New York City. We are honored to have President Bill Clinton as our keynote speaker, and are thrilled to announce that the acclaimed musician and songwriter, Jon Bon Jovi will perform later in the evening!! The combination of President Clinton's remarks and Jon Bon Jovi's performance will make for a very meaningful and inspirational evening. We are touched by the generosity of so many individuals who have donated their time and offered to help in other ways. We have included information below on how to register.

As we celebrate Mother's Day, I'd like to share the poem below:

What is a Mother's Love?

A mother's love is many things.

she is a teacher and a friend,

someone to guide you through right and wrong,

someone to listen and understand.

She can comfort you like no other,

holding you in her arms.

She can fill your spirit with confidence and encourage your unsure heart,

She can bring a smile to your saddened face,

wipe away your tears,

love you regardless of the faults you have,

and stand by you throughout the years.

A mother's love is many things,

and one thing is quite sure;

a mother's love is special,

for no one can love like her.

-T.L. Nash

Happy Mother's Day to all those who have ever loved a child! 

Warm Regards,

VOICES Programs and events

VOICES Always Remember Fundraising Benefit

VOICES second annual Always Remember Benefit will raise funds to support VOICES’ efforts to create the 9/11 Living Memorial digital archive. The benefit will be held Monday evening, June 8th, at Pier Sixty in Manhattan. A cocktail reception and silent auction begin at 6pm. Special guests include President Bill Clinton and an exciting performance by Jon Bon Jovi. Space is limited, so please make reservations early. To learn more, or to register online, visit our benefit web page. Please contact our office at (203) 966-3911 if you are interested in making a reservation by phone, coordinating a corporate sponsorship or would like to donate an item for the silent auction.

9/11 Living Memorial Project

VOICES of September 11th launched the 9/11 Living Memorial in September 2006 to commemorate each and every life impacted by the September 11th terrorist attacks - including those who were lost, those who survived and those who came to their rescue at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, PA.  It is our hope that the project will memorialize the lives lost, provide solace to those impacted, and put the events of the day into historical context for future generations. Victims’ stories are vivid reminders of our shared humanity.

While we were hosting a 9/11 Living Memorial workshop at the DEVCO offices in New Brunswick, New Jersey last week, Bob Braun from the The Star-Ledger visited with us to learn more about the project. The Star Ledger recently profiled the 9/11 Living Memorial Project in a moving article. To learn more about the process, and the impact, of this important historical initiative, click here.

We are asking everyone with memories to share—of family members or friends lost, of experiences that fateful day—for their contributions. The 9/11 Living Memorial is a dynamic, web-based archive that chronicles victims’ and survivors’ lives with stories, photographs, and mementoes of all kinds. Each month we host workshops throughout the tri-state area; scheduled workshops are listed below. To learn more, to register or schedule a workshop in your community please contact Michelle Doherty at (203) 966-3911 or mdoherty@voicesofsept11.org. You can also visit www.911livingmemorial.org.

VOICES, New Canaan

Date: Wednesday, May 13th
Time: 11:00am to 5:00pm by Appointment
Location: The office of Voices of September 11th, 161 Cherry Street, New Canaan, CT 06840

KBW, New York

Date: Thursday, May 21st for KBW families & employees
Time: 11:00am to 5:00pm by Appointment
Location: The office of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, 787 7th Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY

VOICES, New Canaan

Date: Friday, May 29th
Time: 11:00am to 5:00pm by Appointment
Location: The office of Voices of September 11th, 161 Cherry Street, New Canaan, CT 06840

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, May 12th: Wives with No or Older Children Teleconference Group, Noon to 1:00pm

Wednesday, May 13th: Siblings Teleconference Group, 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Tuesday, May 19th: Parents Teleconference Group, 3:45pm to 5:00pm

Tuesday, May 19th: Rockland County Parents In Person Group, 7:00pm to 9:00pm

In the News

A Tree Grows in the Bronx ... Symbolizing Resilience after 9/11

A pear tree severely disfigured during the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11 and later transplanted in the Bronx is now in glorious form, flowering beautifully…a powerful symbol of renewal and hope in the face of tragedy. The “survivor tree,” as it has come to be known, will be moved once again in two years time to the plaza of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, where it will join hundreds of other trees as part of a living memorial. To read more, visit the NY Times.

9/11 Memorial & Museum Receives Major Grant from Swiss Foundation

The Starr International Foundation has provided the National September 11th Memorial & Museum with the first major gift in its international outreach effort: $1 million dollars. The Museum’s Chairman, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, “We are thankful to the Starr International Foundation for their generous gift and continued support of the Memorial project. The events of 9/11 had tremendous global implications and it is important that the Museum tells this story.” To read the Museum’s press release, click here.

Daily News Hopes Kathleen Sibelius Will Hear 9/11 Responder’s Call

In a poignant editorial, the Daily News, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2007 for its series “"9/11: The Forgotten Victims” about the medical fallout from the World Trade Center attacks, has written a plea to new Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius regarding the 9/11 health crisis. The paper tells the story of Fire Lt. Martin Fullam, who recently received a lung transplant as a result of his exposure to toxic dust during rescue and recovery operations. To read the editorial, click here.

Guantanamo Military Tribunals Still Possible

Military tribunals to prosecute Guantanamo detainees may still occur, despite heavy criticism by many including President Obama. Officials are concerned it will be difficult to prosecute the detainees in the federal court system, considering the harsh interrogation techniques utilized in the past, as well as having to publicize classified material. Read more at the NY Times and the Washington Post.

In a related story, the Obama Administration is having difficulty placing detainees. See the NY Times.