HEARTS AND HANDS UPDATE 7/31

Dear Friend,



In 2001 we made a commitment to assist 9/11 families in any way we could.



For eight years we have tried to keep that commitment and have worked hard to keep you informed and help you through a very difficult time.



We have also listened to your concerns and believe that we have come up with a plan that will honor the memory of your loved ones by celebrating their lives through our Hearts and Hands Memorial.



By creating a permanent home for the United in Memory 9/11 Victims Memorial Quilt along with a Corridor of Memories and a 21,000 square foot Memorial Garden we hope to create a peaceful and serene location where visitors will be able to quietly remember their loved ones.



Our recording studio will enable you to add personal stories about your loved ones or listen to stories others have recorded.



Our educational programs will take a positive and proactive approach to instill a sense of goodness and decency in our youth while documenting all the events related to 9/11.



Our Corridor of Memories will be filled with photos supplied by you with the names of your loved ones displayed as requested by you. It will also honor all of those who have died as a result of 9/11



While we are receiving some governmental support we need your help in making this a reality.



Our goal is to have this completed in time for the 10th anniversary.



To that end we are hoping that you will become a benefactor by committing to support this effort over the next two years.



At this time we are asking for a small tax deductible contribution of whatever you can afford.



We are developing giving programs to get people involved at all levels in 2010 but for now we need to know we have your support.



We are working on plans to have the quilt displayed at Ground Zero over the weekend of September 11th and hope that you will take a few moments to experience the love that went into this 16,000 square foot memorial.



Most importantly we hope that you will spread the word about the Hearts and Hands Memorial to all your family and friends.



If you would like a copy of our brochure please respond to this e-mail with your mailing address.



For more information visit our website at www.where-to-turn.org





Thank you in advance for your support.





Dennis McKeon



Where to Turn

150-l Greaves Lane # 312

Staten Island, NY 10308

Important 9/11 Mailing

To All,



Over the last eight years I do realize that many of you have moved.



Since we have always communicated via e-mail that has not been a problem.



I will be sending out an important mailing regarding the 9/11 Hearts and Hands Memorial.



If you would like to receive it please e-mail me back with your current address.



Thanks



Dennis

WTC STATISTICS AND RESPONSES

World Trade Center Operational Statistics dated June 30

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=48572

Responses to WTC Potential Human Remains Reconciliation

http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=48573

Government By the Majority

As we just celebrated our country’s birthday I was wondering where we would be if our Founding Fathers were like our Senators up in Albany.



233 years ago a group of men who had monumental differences were able to put them aside for the sake of our nation.



Personal agendas, biases, life long beliefs were all put on hold for the common good.



If this group of Senators were there in 1776 we would all be eating crumpets, drinking tea and singing God Save the Queen.



Fortunately they weren’t there but that does not help us today.



These “elected officials” who are being paid to represent us are doing anything but.



They seem more concerned over the size of their offices or the number of their perks than they are about our schools, our welfare or the welfare of our state.



Maybe we should take a page out of the revolutionary book and toss them all out on their ears.



It was “No Taxation Without Representation” back then but we get stuck with “Taxation and No Representation” today.



Thomas Jefferson once said “We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate”..



If only Albany would listen.

What's In A Name?

There is still much discussion going on as to how the names should be listed on the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero.

Although there will never be a solution that will please everyone it appears that we have once again excluded common sense from the process.

This memorial is meant to honor the people who died on 9/11.

People are more than just names.

Many people spend years becoming who they are and in many cases they become more than just the name they were given at birth.

I don’t ever remember calling my Doctor by his first name.

I even had a friend called Junior and to this day I still don’t know his real name because I never knew his father’s first name.

I grew up watching Captain Jack McCarthy and Officer Joe Bolton on TV.

I was taught by Sister Sean Patrick, married by Father Murphy and I have even attended services with Rabbi Sussman.

I grew up learning about Sergeant York and General George S. Patton.

I will say it again, people are more than what appears on their driver’s license or social security card.

And they deserve to be remembered for who they are.

This is particularly true with people in our military, and our police and fire departments.

These people who put their lives on the line every day deserve the respect for the rank they have obtained.

And those who died on 9/11 deserve the same such respect.

So whether it be Father Mychal Judge, or Captain Timothy Stackpole or Sergeant Rodney Gillis, let’s honor and remember the individuals and who they were and not just their names.

They deserve nothing less.

Meeting With the WTC Memorial Foundation

To All,

I had a very productive meeting with the representatives of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum
at the World Trade Center.

They showed me the current plans for the museum and it contains many interesting features.

I expressed my concerns about being able to handle the crowds, the fact that the memorial is still 70 feet underground and the problem that still exists with the listing of the names.

I then presented our plans for the Hearts and Hands Memorial.

I told them that while the museum at Ground Zero has personal aspects the Hearts and Hands Memorial is totally personal.

From the quilt to the listing of the names as the families requested to the Memorial Garden our location will allow the families a place for peaceful contemplation.

I also told them that by working together we would be able to give the family members a place to go for the 10th anniversary and that no matter how hard they try to convince us that we do not believe that the Memorial will be completed by 2011.

They seemed very interested in our Memorial but we almost certain that they would not be able to help us financially.

I explained that by working together we would be able to give the families everything they had asked for and also offer a place where family members who do not want to go to Ground Zero will be able to go.

After meeting with the representatives I had a personal meeting with Joe Daniels and went over the same points.

I told him that there had to be a way we could work together and he agreed to look into the possibility.

We also talked about trying to make plans to bring the United in Memory Quilt to Ground Zero this September 11th.

He promised to get back to me.

At this point I am cautiously optimistic but only time will tell.

I will keep you posted.

Dennis