The only thing that bothers me is that if you were killed on 9/11 in the towers your life is somehow more deserving of monetary aid, remembrance, charity and patriotism than the many thousands more who were brave enough and patriotic enough to serve in our military after 9/11 but became injured mentally or physically as a result. There are 9/11 widows (who were financially well off before the attack) who have collected millions in aid during the aftermath of the attack, and military families with members who have been killed or injured but have not gotten 1/1000th as much support from our government or our citizens.
Instead of building monuments, spending money on parades, planning memorial services and using the event as a justification for pageantry - we ought to be using all of those dollars to provide educational funding, career training and support services for our military personnel and their families.
Quote:
The foundation that manages the memorial and museum has raised $412 million from private donors and hopes to collect an additional $17 million by the end of the year. Joseph C. Daniels, the president and chief executive of the memorial, said that sum should cover all costs through the end of 2012.
That calculation, however, does not account for $150 million that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey wants from the foundation as its share of underground construction work. The foundation has so far refused to pay that amount, Port Authority officials say.
But beyond next year, the costs of running the museum and maintaining and protecting the memorial plaza, with its pair of deep, granite-lined pools and grove of swamp white oak trees, will be at least $55 million annually, Mr. Daniels said. He has been lobbying in Washington for federal financing to cover part, if not most, of those expenses.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/10/ny...lie-ahead.html
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That kind of cash could put EVERY child of EVERY military casualty through college on a full scholarship, allow returning veterans to get career training, provide interest free financial assistance to veterans in need and do a heck of a lot more good for the living than it will ever do for the dead.
