Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Department of Justice Emails Description An account of the resource The Department of Justice received more than 11,000 e-mails in response to the agency's public solicitation for comments upon its plans to distribute the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 established by Congress to benefit the victims of September 11 and their families. These e-mails have been organized here by date. September 11 Email September 11 Email: Body The basic content, as unstructured text; sometimes containing a signature block at the end. January 23,2002 Kenneth L. Zwick, Director Office of Management Programs, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice Main Building, Room 3140 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20530 Dear Mr. Zwick: A copy of The Department of Justice document, dated November 26, 2001 has been received in the mail from a friend today. In it, it names a special master to head the September 11 Compensation Program. I learned that responses were due by January 22, 2002. I beg you to consider my deep concerns before establishing "final rules" in this matter. First, all United States citizens grieve the devastating loss of life in the four September 11 terrorist attacks on our country. On the other hand, the huge payments to individual victims, if allowed to stand, can devastate citizen morale and even bankrupt our country. Let me explain: I was a World War II combat infantryman, wounded while fighting German troops. I lost dozens of friends schoolmates. In all, 292,000 American servicemen were killed in that one war. I have spent thousands of my own dollars for specific operations brought on from my wounds, and I was proud to be able to do so! Of the 1,150 World War II veterans on our museums' regular mailing list, hundreds have suffered, and are to this day still suffering from physical and mental trauma from that war. Many wounded servicemen from the Korean, Vietnam, and Desert Storm wars receive no government stipend whatsoever. No one who was killed or who has survived those wars will ever receive anything like a 300,000 on up to 3 million dollar tax free settlement as is being proposed to all families and survivors of September 11. Please explain what have those killed on September 11 done for America, that every veteran who has worn our unjiform in war or peace, and was wounded or killed not done? How then, can 3,000 civilians be selected for these astronomical payments when others receive nothing? The cost to the American taxpayers of several billion dollars to pay for this catastrophe, if not halted, can open the flood gates and lead our nation to bankruptcy. What plan do we have in the event of a single jumbo jet (not unlike 9/11) that selects for a target a closed domed stadium with 50 or 60 thousand people in attendance? In such a catastrophe would even 10 percent of the people survive? Should payment by our government to those victims be less than those on September 11? If not, hundreds of billions of dollars will be needed. Can anyone predict such major catastrophies will not become a part of this countries' existence in the future? My final appeal is for a few answers that I can give to the more than 1,000 WW II veterans and their spouses who will attend our State of Maine Veterans Memorial Day show. Can veterans expect now any financial consideration for having kept the world free, and for the strife that they have suffered, and are still suffering? What is the plan to avoid bankruptcy for our nation when larger groups are killed? Will those victims' families also become instant millionaires--tax free? My concern is real, and it is from the heart. I plead your consideration and correction of this recent, major, error by Congress. You and all thinking Americans must be wondering where do we go from here? Correcting the mistakes in this compensation program now, can help reduce concerns of others on how to correct a growing problem later. I am forwarding a copy of this letter to the Main Congressional Delegation, and to President Bush in hopes of gaining their interest and involvement. I would appreciate a response from any of you concerning the points made, my concerns for America, and answers I can give to Maine WW II and other veterans at our events in May. Sincerely yours, Individual Comment Bangor, Maine CC: President George W. Bush, Attorney Gen. John Ashcroft, Senator Susan Collins, Senator Olympia Snowe, Representative John Baldacci, and Representative Thomas Allen GC/bc September 11 Email: Date The local time and date when the message was written. 2002-01-23 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource dojP000616.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. email Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-01-23