A Community of 9/11 Families, Friends & Concerned Citterns

ENDORSEMENT

2020 Pennsylvania Ave., NW #315 – Washington DC 20006-1846

(888) 444‑6232 – phone – (336) 643‑1394 – fax

www.PlaneSafe.org

To Whom It May Concern:

The Board Members and Members of the National Air Disaster Alliance/Foundation have voted unanimously to support the WTC Families for Proper Burial and the need for Recovery from the Fresh Kills Landfill of the Ashen Remains, Human Tissue Remains, and Bone Fragments of Those Lost on September 11, 2001 at the WTC (World Trade Center) and Their Right to a Proper Burial.

The National Air Disaster Alliance / Foundation (NADA/F), represents survivors and family members from over 100 aviation disasters, aviation professionals, and the traveling public worldwide.  We recognize that the four air crash disasters of 9/11 were the worst aviation disasters in history.  NADA/F incorporated in 1995, and passed The Family Assistance Act in 1996, a federal law which guarantees specific humanitarian rights to all victims of air crash disasters.  Among those rights is  that victim’s families must be consulted “about the disposition of all remains.”  

For eight years all corporations and all levels of government have complied with The Family Assistance Act.  General aviation and international air crashes are not required to comply with this U.S. law, however, they have also complied with the law as a sign of respect for those who have lost so much.  The aviation disasters from 9/11 should not be an exception.  The law states that “aircraft accident means any aviation disaster regardless of its cause or suspected cause.”

These provisions to consult family members about the disposition of all human remains and personal effects became part of the Federal Law, The Family Assistance Act, following the emotional testimony of air crash family members, and others. 

If 3,000 Americans were killed overseas, the U.S. would be outraged if a foreign country left those ashes in a landfill.  We are more outraged that decision-makers such as President Bush, Mayor Bloomberg and Gov. Pataki, have rejected the pleas of the family members.  It is necessary to properly and respectfully bury our loved ones to honor their loss.

We join with the 9/11 WTC Families for A Proper Burial, calling on those in power, to show their respect to those who died so tragically on 9/11, by removing the human remains from the Fresh Kills Landfill, and by providing an honorable and proper burial in a location of respect, with the concurrence of the family members.

 Gail A. Dunham

Gail A. Dunham

President, NADA/F