Victims' Families

Victims' Families should contact the 9/11 Memorial and Museum organization at: info@911memorial.org. The information below is provided for archival purposes only.

If you are a relative of a victim, we invite you to take a moment to fill out our victims' families contact form to ensure that we keep you informed. LMDC is committed to involving family members in the planning process for Lower Manhattan and encourages all family members to participate in this effort. We would like to establish on-going communication with family members as we move forward with the creation of a permanent memorial to the victims of February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001.

From the very beginning, victims' family members have played a critical role in this process. Family members have participated and voiced their opinions by responding to our outreach mailings, by attending public meetings, and by sending thousands of letters and emails to the LMDC. It is a priority of the LMDC to continuously reach out to family members to keep them informed of our initiatives and events.

LMDC created several Advisory Councils representing a broad spectrum of groups including victims' families, business owners, and downtown residents. From the beginning, these Advisory Councils have provided valuable feedback to the LMDC. LMDC Families Advisory Council has played an important role in the process.

In July 2002, the Families Advisory Council took a critical first step toward the formation of a permanent memorial by creating a draft memorial mission statement and program for the World Trade Center Site Memorial, which became the basis for subsequent drafts of these important documents. LMDC, on behalf of the Families Advisory Council, sent the draft mission statement and program, along with other important information regarding the creation of the memorial and the rebuilding of the World Trade Center Site, to over 3,000 family members for review and comment.

In the fall of 2002, LMDC took the next step by forming two committees to further develop these important documents. Family members participated on these committees, along with survivors, first responders, area residents and many others. The committees premised their work on that of the Families Advisory Council and the extensive input received from family members and the public. In January 2003, the draft mission statement and program were released for public comment and LMDC sent a mailing to over 3,000 families to solicit their feedback. The final Mission Statement and Program for the World Trade Center Memorial was approved by the LMDC Board of Directors in April 2003.

Permanent Memorial:

Reflecting Absence is the memorial to honor the 2,979 heroes lost in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993. The memorial will ensure that future generations will know where the towers once stood and will never forget each individual life taken during those tragic days.

The memorial will be a place for families and friends to remember, a final resting place for those who have not been identified, and a place where thousands will come to reflect upon and share our personal and collective loss. Click here to view memorial. A 501(c3) private not-for-profit corporation, the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation, has been created to construct, own, operate, and maintain the World Trade Center Memorial, and on-site museum and performing arts buildings. The Foundation can be found at www.WTCMemorialFoundation.org.

Temporary Memorial for the Victims of the 1993 Bombings:

On February 26, 2005, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey joined with Governor George Pataki, Acting Governor Richard Codey, and Mayor Bloomberg to dedicate a temporary memorial to pay tribute to the victims of the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. More »

The original granite fountain memorial was destroyed when the towers collapsed on September 11, 2001. During the rescue and recovery operation, a fragment of the original memorial was found. Clearly visible was "John D," part of the name of Mr. DiGiovanni, one of the six victims.

This fragment is preserved in the interim memorial. Port Authority Senior Architect Jacqueline Hanley designed the 9-foot, stainless steel pylon that evokes the memory of the Twin Towers. The temporary 1993 World Trade Center bombing memorial will remain until the permanent memorial is opened at the World Trade Center site. The permanent memorial will honor both the victims of the 1993 and 2001 terrorist attacks.

Interim Memorials: In addition to the creation of the Family Room and the Sphere at Battery Park, the LMDC has sponsored a number of initiatives to provide interim memorials until the permanent memorial and memorial center are completed.

Story Corps:

StoryCorps is a national initiative to instruct and inspire Americans to record each other's stories in sound. LMDC has sponsored a "StoryBooth" which is located on the concourse level of the temporary PATH terminal at the World Trade Center site. The booth gives special access to family members of victims to record their stories about their loved ones as well as survivors, rescue workers and volunteers to recount their memories of September 11th. More » To learn more about StoryCorps, to make a reservation or to listen to excerpts from some of their interviews go to www.storycorps.net.

Living Memorial:

The Living Memorial Project seeks to centrally archive and make accessible to people around the world, via the Internet, information related to those lost on September 11, 2001. Over time, this collection of information will serve as a living memorial and a lasting repository documenting, for all time, the lives of those lost on those tragic days. More »

Tribute Visitors' Center:

The Tribute Visitors' Center will enable the September 11th community to interact in a healing environment with visitors to the World Trade Center site. The Tribute Visitors' Center will establish a physical space for an interim program to respond to visitors seeking more information about the tragic events of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993. More »

Photograph Recovery:

The Port Authority has instituted a procedure that allows you and your loved ones, as well as WTC survivors, to view some 8,000 personal photographs that were recovered and restored after September 11th.

A web-based application was created that will allow you to view the images via the Internet, in the privacy of your home. The site became available as of January 18, 2005, and, initially, will be accessible only to family members who have the appropriate identification number. More »

All questions regarding access to the website should be directed to George Gajewski via email him at ggajewsk@panynj.gov.

Family Rooms:

LMDC recognizes the importance of the World Trade Center site to the families who lost loved ones on February 26, 2003 and September 11, 2001. As a result, two areas have been created for the families to observe the site in quiet contemplation. The first of these rooms is the One Liberty Plaza Family Room, located on the 20th floor of One Liberty Plaza, overlooking the World Trade Center Site. The second room, the Liberty Street Family Room, is on Liberty Street, which is located at the World Trade Center Site. Both of these areas provide a private, peaceful setting. Family members are allowed to bring guests, however we ask you to limit the number to one or two guests, when possible. Click here for more information.

Family Outreach and Activities

Family Mailings

On January 14, 2005 the LMDC sent color copies of signature images and further information regarding the memorial to their mailing list of over 5,000 family members, at the completion of the Schematic Design phase. This Schematic Design of the memorial will now be carried into the Design Development phase where engineering systems and details of the memorial will be further studied. This mailing also includes information about the newly created WTC Memorial Foundation as well as some details regarding three other new LMDC-sponsored projects: StoryCorps' Listening Booth, September's Mission 9/11 Living Memorial and the WTC Visitors' Center. Also attached were instructions to view photographs found at the WTC site after 9/11 that were recovered, restored and put on a secure website by the Port Authority. Click here to view the documents in this mailing.

On August 17, 2004 the LMDC sent a mailing to over 5,000 family members to provide information regarding the third anniversary commemoration events for September 11th. The mailing included a joint press release from Governor Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg about the details of the ceremony at the World Trade Center site. Also included was a letter from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation President, Kevin Rampe, reminding family members of the LMDC Family Room hours during the commemoration weekend, as well as additional information on the Tribute in Lights. The Community Assistant Unit of the Mayor's office also sent out a letter to describe logistical details for the event, as well as provide the information on how to submit requests to be a reader of the victim's names at the ceremony. Click here to view the documents in these mailings.

On June 2, 2004 the LMDC sent the Memorial Center Advisory Committee Draft Recommendations for the Memorial Center to family members of victims of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993. These recommendations were developed by an advisory committee comprised of historians, preservationists, curators, victims' family members, residents, survivors and first responders to begin the development process of the curatorial mission and possible program elements of the Memorial Center located within the World Trade Center Memorial. The LMDC sent the documents to solicit input from family members on the recommendations prior to further development of the Memorial Center. The public comment on the recommendations was open from June 2, 2004 through July 1, 2004. Click here to view the documents in this mailing.

On January 26, 2004, the LMDC sent a packet to 5,500 family members of victims of September 11, 2003 and February 26, 1993 announcing the selected designers for the World Trade Center Memorial. This packet included a letter from LMDC President, Kevin Rampe, announcing Michael Arad and Peter Walker as the winning designers of the World Trade Center Memorial. Included was a letter from Michael Arad describing the memorial in his own words and explaining his inspirations. This letter was followed by images of the memorial so families could gain a sense of what the memorial will look like in the years to come. Click here to view the documents in this mailing.

On November 12, 2003 the LMDC sent a letter to over 5,500 family members of victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center, as well as to family members of victims of the crash of Flight 93 and the attack on the Pentagon. This letter was to inform family members of the unveiling of the eight finalists of the World Trade Center Site Memorial Competition and to invite family members to view the exhibit of the finalists at the Winter Garden in the World Financial Center. Click here to view the documents in this mailing.

On September 23, 2003 the LMDC sent a letter to family members of victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center. This letter was to dispel misconceptions regarding retail and commercial development within the footprints of the towers. Click here to view the documents in this mailing.

On August 14, 2003 the LMDC sent a mailing to over 5,500 family members to formally introduce Anthoula Katsimatides, the new Assistant Vice President of Community Affairs and Government Relations, who is charged with keeping family members of victims of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993 informed and included in the rebuilding process. Christy Ferer, a newly appointed LMDC Board member, and family liaison for Mayor Bloomberg, included a letter to invite all children of victims of 9/11/01 and 2/26/93 to participate in "Art for Heart" on September 11, 2003. Also included was the press release issued by the Governor's office detailing the State and City commemoration ceremonies that took place on September 11th, 2003. Click here to view the documents in this mailing.

As part of the Public Perspectives outreach campaign for the World Trade Center Site Memorial, LMDC invited World Trade Center Site family members from February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001, as well as Pentagon families and Somerset County, Pennsylvania families to participate in this historic process by informing the memorial jury members of their hopes and aspirations for the memorial. LMDC sent a mailing to over 6,500 family members to ensure that as many families as possible were aware of the memorial process and the ways they could participate and provide feedback. Click here to view the documents in this mailing.

In January 2003, LMDC sent a second mailing to more than 3,000 family members as part of the Plans in Progress outreach campaign. The mailing included information on the nine design concepts for the World Trade Center site released on December 18, 2002 and the revised draft memorial mission statement and program. Family members were encouraged to provide comment on both the site planning efforts and the revised draft mission statement and program. Click here to view the documents in this mailing.

In July 2002, LMDC organized a family mailing including an introduction to LMDC and the initial draft memorial mission statement and program created by the Families Advisory Council. The mailing was sent to over 3,000 family members to review and provide comment. Click here to view the documents in this mailing.