dojN002313.xml

dojN002313.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2002-01-22

Tuesday, January 22, 2002 5:24 PM
I Lost My Fiancee in 2 WTC on September
11th, 2001


Dear Sir/Madame:

My fiancee, and domestic partner, died in his
office's at , on the 89th floor of 2 WTC in the
September 11 terrorist attack. I am writing to express my concerns and
objections to the Department of Justice's, (DOJ) "Interim Final Regulations
Governing Payments Under the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund;" as there
is no place/no where in the documentation/regulation does it even acknowledge
the rights of fiancees or domestic partners.

Yet, as fiancee myself, I can attest to the fact that we were obviously the most
important persons in each other's lives. We had chosen to spend the rest of our
lives together, to support one another in sickness and health, many of us
planned to conceive and raise children together. We were dependent on one
another as confidants, role models, friends, lovers, and in many cases, such as
my own, in financial matters.

Now, not only have we lost the most important person in our lives - taking away
our own lives in many cases - as life now has no meaning, joy or reason - we are
told we may not even be considered as recipients in Mr. Feinberg's ruling. It
may be that families receive all the rights, yet those who are also family - NEW
family (such as fiancees,) those whom could be considered closer than actual
family have no rights - this I must disagree with strongly. How can one
committee, one man decide whom is worthy and whom is not?

and I had been engaged for over a month, but had been dating and virtually
living together for three years. We were best friends and spent every moment
when we were not working together. provided for me financially, as he was
obviously the "bread winner," and although his family may disagree, I was
dependent on and he wanted it that way. family has now made it
perfectly clear to my family that they do not intend to include me in the
financial part of this disaster - in other words I have been "cut off."

and I travelled extensively, we rented houses yearly with other couples in
places such as Vermont, St. Barth's in the Caribbean, we were to travel to Italy
on September 21st, 2001, we ate out alone and with friends regularly, we shopped
together - (he often paid for my "everyday needs" at the grocery, drug and
clothing store.) paid for all of the above, am I, therefore, not
considered dependent or in the exact circumstances as a wife may be?

Although we had the ring and were in the process of making plans, we simply had
not reached our wedding date of June 2, 2002 before this horrific terrorist
attack on the U.S., that has devastated the world, let alone those who lost love
ones personally.

I implore you to realize that fiancees/domestic partners should be considered
the same as a wife, for the love is no different, the dependency is no different
and I can guarantee the mourning/grieving is no different, we too have lost our
future - we were excitedly planning together with our loved one - and therefore
we should be considered equal and be given fair treatment.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Individual Comment

2002-01-22