dojW000043.xml

dojW000043.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-11-06

Tuesday, November 06, 2001 9:05 AM


EVEN THOUGH MY HEART GOES OUT TO THOSE THAT LOST LOVED ONES IN THIS TERRORIST ATTACK. I CANNOT SEE SETTING UP A SPECIAL FUND FOR THESE FAMILIES. THERE ARE NO SPECIAL FUNDS SET UP FOR PEOPLE WHO LOSE FAMILY IN HURRICANES, FLOODS, TORNADOS. EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE NOT TERRORIST ATTACKS THE VICTIMS FAMILIES HAS LOST JUST THE SAME. WE LOST MY HUSBAND IN 07/2000 AND MY MOTHER IN 05/2000. ONE FROM CANCER AND MY SPOUSE DID NOT MAKE IT THROUGH SURGERY OF A BLOCKED BILE DUCT. MY SON, AGE 11 NOW, AND I DID NOT GET ANY SPECIAL FUNDS FOR US. MY SON DOES GET SOCIAL SECURITY SURVIVORS BENEFITS--JUST LIKE THE SURVIVIVORS OF THE TERRORIST ATTACK WILL DO. HOWEVER, WE LOST MY SPOUSE'S INCOME AND THE SUPPORT OF HIS FATHER TO GO TO BOY SCOUTS TRIPS AND FUNCTIONS, CAMPING, HUNTING, FISHING. THINGS MY SPOUSE DID AROUND THE HOME, I NOW AM HAVING TO LEARN HOW TO USE DRILLS, CHAIN SAWS, OR HAVING TO HIRE THINGS DONE. I HAD TO TAKE EARLY RETIREMENT SO MY SON WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE LEFT ALONE AFTER SCHOOL AND DURING SCHOOL BREAKS. HOWEVER, SINCE I TOO WAS GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE, I CANNOT GET MY SPOUSE'S SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS DUE TO MY SMALL PENSION--GROSS ABOUT 1675. I HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PAY FOR MY HEALTH AND LIFE INSURANCE AS WELL AS THE TAXES ON THIS PENSION. WHICH LEAVES ME A NET OF 1373. MY SON GETS 1068. HIS FATHER AND I HAVE WORKED ALL OUR LIVES AND NOW WE HAVE LOST SO MUCH MORE THAN MONEY. OUR LOST IS JUST AS TRAUMATIC AS THEIRS--JUST A DIFFERENT TYPE. WE DID NOT EXPECT TO LOSE HIM AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 50. HE DID NOT PLAN TO LEAVE US THE MORNING HE WENT IN FOR SURGERY. HE WORKED UNTIL TWO WEEKS BEFORE THIS TIME. MY SON IS TOO OLD FOR DAY CARE AND EVEN WITH MY INCOME WE COULD NOT AFFORD A GOOD, TRUSTING BABYSITTER.

I UNDERSTAND THE LOSS THAT EACH SURVIVOR IS GOING THROUGH. THE HOLIDAYS WITHOUT YOUR LOVED ONE, THE FACT THEY WILL NOT SEE THEIR SON GROW UP. MY HUSBAND'S DAUGHTER IS EXPECTING THE FIRST GRANDCHILD IN 01/2002. HER FATHER WILL NOT GET TO BE PART OF THAT. HE SAW HER START SCHOOL, GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE AND BECOME A DOCTOR. SHE DID THIS WITH HONORS. MY SON NOW HAS NONE TO TEACH HIM ABOUT HUNTING OR BOATING OR THE BONDING THAT FATHER'S AND SONS DO.

IF A FUND IS SET UP FOR THE SURVIVORS OF THIS ATTACK WHAT ABOUT THE SURVIVORS OF ALL VICTIMS. I WILL STILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH MONEY TO PAY FOR MY SON'S EDUCATION EVEN IF HE IS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET SCHOLARSHIPS.

THE SURVIVORS OF THE TERRORIST ATTACK WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY SURVIVORS AND/OR GOVERNMENT SURVIVORS BENEFITS. YES THEY LIKE ME WILL STILL HAVE THE SAME BILLS--HOUSE PAYMENT, VEHICLE PAYMENTS AND EXPENSES NOW OF HIRING SOMEONE TO CHANGE THE OIL AND KEEP THE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLES. HOWEVER, THEY UNLIKE ME, WILL HAVE THEIR CHILDREN'S COLLEGE EDUCATION PAID FOR. AS I UNDERSTAND THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN DECIDED AND FUNDING FOR IT HAS BEGUN.

A LOSS OF A LOVED ONE IS DEVASTATING NO MATTER HOW THE LOSS OCCURS. THIS WAS A HORRIBLE BLOW ON THE UNITED STATES AND WE ARE A STRONG NATION AND WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AND STAY THE STRONG NATION THAT OUR FOREFATHERS HAVE FOUGHT SO HARD FOR.

Individual Comment

2001-11-06