A version of the letter below was also sent to Governor Paterson and Joseph Daniels.
Dennis
Where to Turn 150-L Greaves Lane # 312
Staten Island, N.Y. 10308
718-966-6531 (fax) 718-966-6516
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Chairman
National September 11th Memorial & Museum
City Hall
New York, New York 10007
Dear Mayor Bloomberg,
I am writing this letter to you not as the Mayor of New York City but as the Chairman of the National September 11th Memorial & Museum.
My organization has been working closely with the 9/11 families since 2001. Over that period of time we have been listening to their concerns and have worked with many 9/11 family groups when issues arose.
As you are probably aware many 9/11 family members were disheartened with the recent news of the delays and overruns at Ground Zero. They are particularly concerned that the WTC Memorial may not be completed by the 10th anniversary of the attacks.
To that end I would like to make you aware that over the past four years we have been developing a plan to create a facility that will not only honor those lost on 9/11 but also remember all those who came together in support after the events of that tragic day.
Below please find a brief description of how we foresee the complex.
The Hearts and Hands Memorial Complex
As you walk into the entrance of the Memorial you will be greeted by friendly volunteers from our local High Schools or Colleges or maybe by a senior citizen who is volunteering for the day
The entrance facility will have some portraits or personal reminders that have been created since 9/11.
These will be rotating displays so each time you enter you will see something different.
If you like you will be able to make an appointment to record a personal memory about a family member or a friend.
You will also be able to sign up to be a volunteer of a contributor to some of the numerous educational programs that we are developing with other 9/11 family groups.
You will then have the option to proceed to your left to view the United in Memory 9/11 Victims Memorial Quilt or to your right into the Corridor of Memories.
If you go to your left you will enter a single exhibition hall with over 10,000 square feet of open floor space and will be able to walk through aisles displaying the United in Memory 9/11 Victims Memorial Quilt. 142 10 ½ by 10 ½ panels each containing 25 quilt patches memorializing all of the victims of 9/11.
These patches were made by people from all over the world and there is at least one patch for every victim.
You will feel the love that went into this very personal memorial.
Family members will be able to add items to the patches.
Visitors will also be able to tie knots into panels that are under repair.
Anyone will also be able to leave a personal recording of their experience or listen to personal memories of those who have gone before them.
If upon entering the memorial you go to your right you will enter the Corridor of Memories. The corridor is over 250 feet in length and has nearly 3,000 square feet of floor space.
On the walls of the corridor will be 8 x 10 photos of all of the victims of 9/11.
The photos will be arranged bin alphabetical order by affiliation.
The affiliations will also be arranged in alphabetical order to ensure that visitors can easily find their loved one’s photo.
Under each photo will be the name, rank (if required), age and location of the victim on 9/11.
The corridor continues in a circular direction and leads visitors back into the exhibition hall housing the quilt.
The corridor and the exhibition hall will totally enclose a 21,000 square foot Memorial Garden.
The garden will consist of floral arrangements and outdoor monuments including two refurbished fountains and provide a place for peaceful meditation and contemplation.
Surrounding the garden on the exterior walls of the corridor will be plexi glass enclosed viewing areas so visitors will be able to experience the garden even in bad weather.
The arched Plexiglas roof of the enclosures will have etched into them the names of all of the victims in a totally random fashion.
We hope to enable visitors to look up into the sky and feel that their loved ones are watching over them.
There will also be a chapel nearby for anyone who wants to say a prayer.
The Hearts and Hands Memorial Complex will not be at Ground Zero but a short distance away on Staten Island on the grounds of the Seaview Rehabilitation campus.
Restored from abandoned buildings of an era gone by, it will be close enough to Ground Zero yet far enough away from the hustle and bustle of lower Manhattan.
It will be nearly 1,000 feet from any major road.
It will not be a tourist attraction but rather a compliment to the WTC Memorial at Ground Zero.
A place where anyone, but in particular family members, will be able to go to quietly reflect, and remember their loved ones.
It will also be a place to remember how everyone came together after 9/11 to support the victims of the attack and share the valuable lessons learned since 2001.
We already have $1 million committed towards the $6.5 million total cost of this facility and will be starting our official fundraising efforts next month.
I am hoping that you will join Senator Clinton, Senator Schumer, Senator Lanza and all of the 9/11 family groups by supporting this effort.
I will make myself available at your convenience to discuss or answer any questions you may have relating to this project.
I look forward to our continued conversations.
Sincerely,
Dennis McKeon
Executive Director
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