READER'S WRITE

FAMILIES SUPPORT BILLS FOR HANDLING WTC VICTIM REMAINS

WTC Families for Proper Burial, a group of WTC families, friends and concerned citizens are calling upon the New Jersey legislature to pass Bills A2753 and S1924 before this year’s session closes. The bills introduced by Assemblypersons, Linda Stender and Neil Cohen and Senator Peter Inverso require the retrieval of human tissue, bone fragment and cremated remains from the Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island, NY. It also requires that these remains be put into suitable containers and be given a dignified and proper burial.

In response to the introduction of these bills, many NJ municipalities have passed resolutions telling their legislators that they too want these bills passed. At the suggestion of Carteret residents Thomas and JoAnn Meehan, whose daughter Colleen Barkow was killed on September 11, 2001, Carteret, NJ, was the first municipality to pass such a resolution. Livingston, NJ became the 100th. Currently, the WTC Families for Proper Burial have surpassed this mark with a total of 112 NJ municipalities joining in resolutions.

The NJ State League of Municipalities has supported this cause by mailing an endorsement to all NJ municipalities stating, “It is a worthy cause that these heroes deserve the dignity and respect of a proper burial. Therefore, the League encourages you to review A-2753/S-1924 and act accordingly.”

In addition, ten NJ Boards of Chosen Freeholders, Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Monmouth, Salem, Sussex, Union and Warren, have submitted their formal endorsements. Religious, civil, veterans organizations, and uniformed services also have added their endorsements to the thousands of NJ residents who have a signed a petition urging that this proposal be passed.

Governor James McGreevey has written in favor of these bills. Sponsorship and/or endorsement has come from thirty-five (35) NJ State Assembly members, and eleven (11) NJ State Senators. Rockland County, NY and three municipalities in New York State have begun a similar movement in New York State.

WTC Families for Proper Burial wishes to thank these municipalities and the elected officials who have responded to the voice of the people of New Jersey. New Jersey is going on record as being the first State to acknowledge the indignity done to those killed on September 11, 2001 and to work toward a remedy to this atrocity.

Diane Horning
Carteret, NJ