W000467
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CIVIL DIVISION
MAIN BUILDING, ROOM 3140
950 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20530
RE: RESPONSE TO NOTICE OF INQUIRY AND ADVANCE NOTICE OF
RULEMAKING PURSUANT TO "SEPTEMBER 11 VICTIM COMPENSATION
FUND"
THE PURPOSE OF MY COMMENTS IS SIMPLY TO ASSURE THAT OTHERS IN
SIMILAR SITUATIONS TO MINE ARE CONSIDERED ELIGIBLE FOR COMPENSATION
DUE TO THE EXTREME PAIN AND SUFFERING CAUSED BY THE SEPTEMBER 11
ATTACK SPECIFICALLY, MY FIANCEE, WIFE-TO-BE, WAS KILLED WHEN THE
PENTAGON WAS ATTACKED. WAS A CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY.
THE FACTS OF MY CASE SHOULD BE ILLUSTRATIVE OF WHY ALL SIMILARLY
SITUATED, WITH EQUAL OR SUPERIOR EVIDENCE OF SAME, SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE
CLAIMANTS. I WAS ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED ON APRIL 1, 2000. WE WERE TO BE
MARRIED IN 2002. MY ENGAGEMENT RING IS AMONGST THE RUINS OF THE
PENTAGON. I HAVE THE RECEIPT FOR THAT.
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTER, ESTABLISHED
AFTER THE ATTACK, RENDERED FAMILY RECOGNITION TO ME AS WELL AS TO
MY FIANCEE'S DAUGHTER. THAT SAME DAUGHTER WOULD TESTIFY TO HER
RECOGNITION OF ME AS HER SECOND FATHER. THE GENERAL WHO HEADED THE
CENTER, IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE OCTOBER 11 MEMORIAL SERVICE AT THE
PENTAGON, LISTED "THE FIANCEE" IN HIS REPORT AS TO WHOM THE CENTER
HAD SERVED, ALONG WITH THE "SISTERS, BROTHERS, MOTHERS, FATHERS," ETC.
LIKEWISE, THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, AT ITS MEMORIAL FOR THEIR
COWORKER, AND IN ITS OTHER DEALINGS WITH ME, HAS RECOGNIZED ME AS
AN INTEGRAL PART OF LIFE NOW AND IN THE FUTURE THAT SHE OFTEN DISCUSSED WITH THEM.
IN THE CHURCH MEMORIAL HELD FOR MY FIANCEE, DAUGHTER AND I WERE THE ONLY ONES EULOGIZING HER.
IN SHORT, MY FUTURE, THE REMAINING YEARS OF LIFE AND MINE, WAS TAKEN FROM ME. I HIGHLY SUSPECT THERE ARE OTHERS CONNECTED WITH THE 9/11 ATTACKS FACED WITH THE SAME TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCES.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW OR PRECEDENTS, I FIRMLY
BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ELIGIBLE CLAIMANTS.
AGAIN, I ALSO BELIEVE THAT CREDIBLE EVIDENCE OF THE FORMAL
ENGAGEMENT MUST BE SHOWN, WITH THE SPECIAL MASTER THEN
DETERMINING THE DEGREE OF APPROPRIATE COMPENSATION BASED ON
EVIDENCE PRESENTED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO INCALCULABLE
FUTURE BENEFITS ASSOCIATED THE MANY YEARS OF MARRIAGE AND ALL THAT
GOES WITH THEM.
THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO EXPRESS THESE VIEWS AS YOU DEVELOP
THESE VERY IMPORTANT REGULATIONS.
INDIVIDUAL COMMENT