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MISSION
The September 11th Families' Association supports victims of terrorism through 
communication, representation and peer support. Our mission is to unite the 
September 11th community, present evolving issues, and share resources for 
long-term recovery.

For All Press Inquiries, Please Contact:
Ben Urizar 
212-422-3520 Ext:141  
burizar@911families.org

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For updates on the Tribute Center, please read Lee Ielpi's blog:
The Persistence of Memory.

Follow the Tribute Center on Twitter! 
Please click here to visit our Facebook page.

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9-11 Tribute at Fire Chiefs Convention, an article from News 10 Now, notes 
the performance of six volunteers from the Tribute Center who shared their 
personal experiences of 9/11—survivors, first responders, family members 
who lost loved ones, residents of Lower Manhattan, and volunteers —
during the annual Association of Fire Chiefs convention on 
Thursday, June 11, 2009 in Verona, NY. They detailed their individual 
challenges, stories of healing, and how the Tribute Center has inspired them.  
Donna Kaz, an experienced theater writer and director, combined the personal 
experiences into a 75-minute stage play which explores the tragedy and 
triumph of 9/11. 

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Verdict ruled in Omagh Bombing of the Real IRA in Northern Ireland
Monday June 8, 2009, a judge  found that the real IRA leader Michael McKevitt 
was responsible for the 1998  Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland.  Mr. Justice 
Morgan made the ruling after a landmark civil case brought by  some of the 
families of the victims of the atrocity.  The 12 relatives were awarded more than 
£1.6m  in damages for the attack in which 29 people and unborn twins died. 
Mr Justice Morgan also found  dissident republican organization the Real IRA 
liable for the bomb.  He said it was clear that the bombers' primary  objective 
was to ensure that the bomb exploded without detection, and the safety of 
those members of the public in Omagh town centre was at best a secondary 
consideration. 
He said he was  "satisfied that those involved in the planning, preparation, 
planting and detonation of the bomb recognized the likelihood of serious injury 
or death  from its detonation but decided to take that risk".  Mr. Justice Morgan 
said McKevitt "held  and has always held a significant leadership role in the 
Real IRA,", and  was heavily involved in the procurement of explosives at the 
time of the bombing. 
Michael Gallagher, who lost  his 21-year-old son in the attack, said it was a 
"result better than we could ever have imagined."  In a speech following the 
verdict on behalf of the families, Mr. Gallaher stated
We stand here  today after 11 grueling years of campaigning for justice for 
Northern Ireland ’s worst terrorist atrocity.  It has been uphill all the way
and we thank those who have  climbed with us. 
                                            
Mr Blair and  Ahern told the world that ‘no stone would remain unturned’ 
in the quest for  justice at Omagh.   As politicians repeatedly let us down,
we and our  legal team were left to turn over every stone with our bare hands.    
                                            
Mr Blair, Ahern, and Flanagan.   We  shouldn’t have had to do this.  
Today’s historic verdict is against a  background of your moral cowardice.   
You should each hold your heads in  shame.   Omagh is your true legacy to 
Northern Ireland .   May it  haunt you for the rest of your days.    
                                            
What peace process can hold its head high in  the world when it abandons 
those victims of terror?   Leaving victims to  fend for themselves?  History 
has judged it today and history will not be  kind to you. 
                                            
We speak not just for ourselves but for  victims of terror everywhere.   
Across Northern   Ireland and the UK .   And further afield:    
September 11 th families, those in Madrid  ,  Colombia  and 
London to  name but three.    
                                            
Today is not the end.   Whilst nothing  will bring back our loved ones,. 
we will pursue damages due to us in full.  There will be no hiding place 
or bank account to escape justice. 
                                            
We will not go  away.   We will not be quiet.   We will not be forgotten.
No-one has ever been  convicted in a criminal court of causing the deaths.   
The only man to face criminal charges over  the Omagh killings, 38-year-old 
Sean Hoey from Jonesborough in South Armagh, was acquitted in 2007.  The 
families brought the multi-million pound  action in an attempt to bring fresh 
information  about the atrocity to light.  
Civil cases have a much  lower burden of proof, with the judge reaching his 
verdict on the balance of  probabilities. In criminal law, guilt must be proved 
beyond reasonable doubt.

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America's Camp
America’s Camp will run from Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - Tuesday, 
August 25, 2009 this summer.  Currently there are 230 campers 
enrolled for the 2009 season. There is space for about 50 more 
children but spaces are filling up quickly.  If any new families 
are interested in enrolling a child, please call 1-800-548-6295 or 
email Beth at beth@americascamp.org.  Enrollment forms can also 
be found on www.americascamp.org, but new families are encouraged .
to contact the office first, so that their questions can be answered.  

photo

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 The World Trade Center Family House 
The Family House trailer is now located on Washington Street 
between Carlisle and Albany Streets.
The Family House is open 7 days a week from 9AM - 7PM. A 
Family Identification Card from the Medical Examiner's Office will 
provide access into this area. 
If you do not have a  Medical Examiner's Family Card, you can 
contact the Medical Examiner's office at 212-447-4394 to make an 
appointment to get one. We would encourage all family members to 
do so. This will give you access to other family related sites, such 
as the Family Room on the 20th floor of One Liberty Plaza, 
Memorial Park at the Medical Examiner's location, and will be your 
ID when needed for different events throughout the year.
For further QUESTIONS or INFORMATION, please contact 
Davella May,at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey at 
212-435-5552 or e-mail at dmay@panynj.gov.
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Submit a Photo of your Loved One to the Tribute Center Family Gallery
The Tribute WTC Visitor Center includes a special Family Gallery where loved 
ones’ photos show our visitors how special those we lost were. We hope to 
display photos of all those who were killed on September 11 at the World 
Trade Center, the Pentagon and on Flight 93, and in February 26, 1993.
If you are an immediate family member who did not receive our request for 
a photo submission and you would like to send photos, please email 
kgrieger@911families.org.  We know that your care and generosity in sharing 
these memories with the world will help to ensure that those we lost on 
September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993 will never be forgotten.
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Tribute WTC Visitor Center 
The Tribute Center is a project of the September 11th Families 
Association. The Association realized the need to provide 
information to the thousands ofvisitors who gather at the World 
Trade Center site each day.  The Tribute WTC Visitor Center 
opened in September 2006 at 120 Liberty Street in New York across 
the street from the World Trade Center site.  Tribute is a place where 
visitors can learn about the events of February 26, 1993 and 
September 11, 2001. Through the voices of many individuals in the 
exhibitions and programs, Tribute informs, educates and provides a 
place for reflection.                                   
The Tribute Center grew out of the need to respond to the desire of 
people to come to the site. It grew out of the desire of families and 
those closely affected by 9/11,to share the story of the people, the 
day, the actions, the heroism, the courage,the loss and the grief. It 
came from a realization that history is being written everyday and in 
order to share the individual stories with people who have come 
seeking enlightenment and personal contact, there is a need to create 
an organization and a physical point of origin so that the needs of 
those coming to learn could be alignedwith the need of those willing 
to share. 
To volunteer for the Tribute Center guide program, 
email volunteer@tributewtc.org or visit www.tributewtc.org.
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Stepping Forward
On January 7, 2009, the September 11th  Families’ Association 
hosted a special evening at the Tribute Center  to welcome families 
and professionals from the 9/11 Project.  In October 2001, the 9/11 
Project was established to provide legal assistance in the aftermath 
of the attacks.
The Project was the only connection some families, who were 
undocumented, had to the 9/11 community.  Living in the 
shadows, many were scared to come forward.  The 9/11 Project 
has been working to secure permanent legal status in the United 
States for these families.  In August 2008, they obtained a 
temporary  humanitarian parole from the Department of Homeland 
Security giving the family members legal presence in the United 
States.
The 9/11 Project assisted with linguistic  and cultural barriers by 
lending support & resources.  Ana Soria, who lost her husband in 
the attacks, said “Since the day we got legal presence, our lives 
changed a lot.” 
The 9/11 Project counted on the commitment  of volunteers from 
New York City law firms.  Debra Brown Steinberg, a  senior 
partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, was instrumental 
in coordinating this pro bono effort.
Debra felt the event was important after visiting the Center, stating, 
“Tribute is the connective tissue which binds us together no matter 
what language we speak, where we were born, or how we  mourn 
that day. The names and faces on the walls of the Tribute Center, 
and the names and faces of their families walking in the galleries, 
come from every corner of the map, reminding us that  the World 
Trade Center attacks were not just on the citizens of New York, 
but on the citizens of the world.” 
The family members and law  professionals were greeted by 
Tribute Center volunteers who spoke  about their personal 
experiences. Shannon, who lost her husband on Flight 11, said 
“It was wonderful to  meet more members of the community 
and to welcome them into this network of  support & healing 
we’re all part of. Hopefully they will decide to get involved in 
Tribute tours or as gallery guides.”  
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Tribute Center Teacher Awards 2009

On  February 26, 2009, the second annual Tribute Center Teacher 
Awards were  presented.  Four teachers received awards  for 
projects commemorating September 11th in their classrooms. 
Teachers Aaden Stern and Courtney Winkfield  of Academy for 
Young Writers, Brooklyn, NY require students to  onduct oral 
histories to learn about historical events that occurred in their 
life-times and connect these events to their own lives. Students 
chose to conduct oral histories about the attacks of 
September 11, 2001 and then  published them. Michael Chrvala of 
Shiloh Middle School, Hampstead Maryland is an 8th grade U.S. 
history teacher who considers September 11th a “teachable moment.”  
“Through the use of videos, readings, and a lot of discussion …I 
believe that  it is my job to make certain that my students appreciate 
the dedication and selflessness of the rescuers.” Teacher  Noriko Koide 
from Valley Stream HS and Lynbrook HS, Long Island, NY  teaches 
Japanese. Since 9/11/01 she has had her students make origami cranes 
for the victims of 9/11 as a symbol of and hope for world peace, and has  
involved her students in conversations about the meaning of this history. 
Teacher Jamie Ellinger and her students from Northside College 
Preparatory HS, Chicago, IL participate in a Living History Project. 
10th grade students came to NYC specifically to conduct their oral 
histories. The awards have been made possible by the generous support 
of: The Brooke Jackman Foundation; The Christopher Slattery 9/11 
Memorial Scholarship Foundation; The Greg Richards, Larry Polatsch, 
Scott Weingard Memorial Fund; The Welles Remy Crowther Charitable 
Trust; and The September 11th Families’ Association. They were 
presented by New York State  Education Department, Deputy 
Commissioner for Cultural Education Jeffrey Cannell. 

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Sabino Arana Award
On  Saturday, January 31, 2009 at a gala event at the Euskalduna 
Conference Center and Concert Hall in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain, 
the September 11th  Families’ Association/Tribute WTC Visitor Center 
jointly with the March 11th  Association of Those Affected by Terrorism 
based in Madrid were honored as  recipients of the prestigious Sabino 
Arana Foundation XX Anniversary Award in  recognition of both associations’ 
contribution in civic engagement and commitment to bring peace to the world. 
Present to receive the award from the hands of the foundation’s President, 
Mr. Juan  Maria Atutxa, and on behalf of the Association were CEO Jennifer 
Adams and President Lee Ielpi  along with other staff members who were 
graciously hosted by the Basque government to attend the awards as well as 
to have the opportunity to visit various institutions in the Basque Country. In 
the past 50 years, hundreds of people have lost their lives to terrorism in the 
Basque Country.  These opportunities “to not only visit this beautiful country 
but to also to hold meetings with various government entities and civilian 
groups and exchange experiences with others affected by terrorism reinforced 
the importance of our mission and expanded our vision to unite people against 
terrorism in peace” expressed Lee Ielpi  in his acceptance speech in front 
of an audience of almost 2,000 which included the President of the Basque 
Country, Lehendakari Ibarretxe, members of Basque government  and cultural 
institutions as well as recipients of the awards from the last 20  years. 
The  winners of this year’s awards along with the September 11th Families’ 
Association/Tribute WTC Visitor Center and the March 11th  Association of 
Those Affected by Terrorism were the French-Basque Cardinal  Roger 
Etchegaray, the Basque writer Toti Martinez de Lezea, the Bilbao Fine Arts 
Museum, the Euskadi (Basque Country) Cyclist Foundation and the business  
group Arteche. The Sabino Arana awards are given annually by the Sabino 
Arana Foundation in commemoration of the birth of the founding father of 
Basque  nationalism – Sabino Arana. 

 
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