An Open Letter to Congress from the 9/11 Children for Justice Against Terrorism

ALL 9/11 CHILDREN:  Please read and sign below:

Dear Speaker Ryan, Leader McCarthy, and Whip Scalise,

We, 9/11 children whose parents were brutally murdered in the worst terrorist attack on American soil, respectfully ask you to put S. 2040, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (“JASTA”) on the calendar for a vote when Congress returns on September 6, 2016 from the August district work break without further delay.

On September 11, 2001, when the smoke cleared and the fires were extinguished, more than 3,000 children were left behind without a parent.  While our nation mourned the 2,996 innocent men, women and children horrifically murdered in the worst terrorist attack humankind has ever witnessed, our worlds crumbled and we were left to navigate our lives in a post 9/11 culture with single parents devastated and heartbroken like us.

We are the children of 9/11, and now, fifteen years later, we want justice for the murderous attacks carried out by 19 radical Islamist terrorists that came to our shores and stole our parents from us.   No child should have to endure their beloved parent’s merciless killing with their remains returned in pieces, sometimes only fragments, over the course of several years and in many cases not at all.

Some of us were very young, spanning from just days old, to toddlers, preschoolers, grade school, middle school, high school, and college age.  Some were adults – some married with children and some just beginning our grown-up lives.  Sadly, some of us were not even born and we never even had the opportunity to meet our fathers and they never had the opportunity to meet us.

While September is quickly approaching, the carefree days of summer will soon end and families will begin to fall into their routines of school, sports, and after-school activities.

For us, the fifteenth anniversary of the murder of our parents is fast approaching and we will once again be reminded of the horrific details of their deaths.   We will be reminded of all that is lost and all that will never be.  We know all too well the pain and suffering terrorism inflicts on the family members left behind and for the injured survivors.

The depravity of terrorism is unfathomable, and the people, entities and/or nations that support these hate-filled organizations should not go unpunished.  They must be held accountable to better protect our nation, our families and help ensure no other child suffers the agonizing loss of a parent to terrorism on American soil.

We understand many families, survivors and Members of Congress have invested several years of hard work in JASTA’s success and its fate is now in your hands.

Some of the undersigned attended the July 14, 2016 Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice hearing on JASTA.  It was with great pride we experienced our government officials working together and we thank Chairman Franks. Rep. Goodlatte and the Committee for their strong support.

We respectfully ask you, our trusted Leaders to please think of us, and help prevent further carnage like the world witnessed on 9/11, and the pain we personally will have to live with for the rest of our lives, by placing this bipartisan legislation on the calendar for a vote as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

9/11 Children for Justice Against Terrorism
(Age of child on September 11, 2001)

• Kaitlyn Strada – 4
• Justin Strada – 4 days old
• Alex Salamone – 6
• Aidan Salamone – 4
• Anna Salamone – 2
• Matthew Bocchi – 9
• Nicholas Bocchi – 7
• Michael Bocchi – 3
• Paul Bocchi – 2 months
• Michael Friedman – 11
• Daniel Friedman – 11
• Timothy Soulas – 11
• Andrew Soulas – 9
• Chris Soulas – 7
• Matthew Soulas – 5
• Nicole Soulas – 1
• Danny Soulas – unborn
• William Dietrich – 3
• Sarah Dietrich – 3
• Brett Eagleson – 15
• Timothy Eagleson – 19
• Kyle Eagleson – 22
• Bridget Finnegan – 6
• Bradley Finnegan – 4
• Jack Finnegan – 3 months
• Patrick J. Hannaford – 2
• Kevin J. Hannaford – unborn
• James Selwyn – 19
• Josh Goldflam – 21
• Ashley Bisman – 16
• Christopher Fersini – 8
• Brian Fersini – 4
• Tommy Fersini – 2
• Katie Fersini – 2
• Kaitlyn Farrell – 11
• Patrick Farrell – 9
• Molly Farrell – 5
• Colin Farrell – 3
• Mike Robertson – 9
• Matt Robertson – 8
• Madison Robertson – 4
• Kevin Robertson – 1
• Payton Wall – 4
• Avery Wall – 2
• Neva Coleman – 4 months
• Victoria Jones – 2
• Gaffney Tucker – 7
• Doreen Latter – 29
• Ashley Latter – 3
• Alexa Latter – 8 months
• James Martello – 7
• Thomas Martello – 5
• Michael Gardner – 4
• Regan McCabe – 8
• Rhiannon O’Connor – 2
• Eva Gurian – 4
• Brennan Basnicki – 16
• Noah Talhami – 3
• Addison Spencer – 4
• Kathryn Spencer – 2
• Robert Spencer – 3 weeks
• Marie Clyne – 11
• Christopher Hayden – 5
• Stephen Hayden – 5
• Liam McCabe – 6
• Juliette-Craig Staub – unborn
• Samantha Fraser – 10
• John O’Neil – 29
• Marjorie Kane – 29
• Morgan Tucker – 4
• Robert Stabile – 20
• Neda Bolourchi – 30
• Elizabeth McGuinn – 10
• Kiefer Puma – 10
• BriAnna Puma – 5
• Dylan Puma – 16 mos.
• Carolyn McGuinn – 8
• James Sherry – 4
• John Sherry – 2
• Birther Laurencin – 29
• Peter Negron – 11
• Austin Negron – 2
• Kevin McDonnell – 4
• Brian McDonnell – 2
• Matthew Damaskimos – 19 months
• Shelby Williams – 17
• Tom Guza – 24
• Charles Laurencin – 32
• Devon Rodak – 5
• Camille Martin – 10
• Anonymous – 7
• Jercienne Laurencin – 30
• Chelsea Rodak (Primavera) – 10
• John Wallace III – 8
• Eddie DAntonio – unborn
• Emma DAntonio – unborn
• Samantha DAntonio – unborn
• Anne Nelson – 11
• N. Lanza – 7
• Emma Hunt – 1
• Haomin Jlan – 20
• Sydney Timmes – 13 months
• Jacqueline Steed – 35
• Michael Flagg – 37
• Caroline Breitweiser – 2
• Nicole Williams – 27
• Olivia Hynes – unborn
• Marcella Porter – 21
• Amanda Golinski – 20
• Sara Golinski – 19
• Jack Sweeney – 4
• Robert Pyclor – 8
• Eugene Belilovsky – 20
• Nicole Spinelli – 17
• Sarah Van Auken – 12
• Sam Kleinberg – 2
• Lisa Debarbie – 21
• Gabrielle Scauso – 6
• Jacqueline Hernandez – 21
• Catherine Hernandez – 19
• Tatiana Hernandez – 14
• Nicholas Chris – 16
• Kelly Arrillaga – 30
• An Nguyen – 4
• Lauren Kleinberg – 7
• Courtney McCann – 16
• Sean McCann – 13
• Sydney Chris – 10
• Donald Gavagan – 2
• Lara Gavagan – 2
• Connor Gavagan – unborn
• Timothy DeBin – 2
• Rebecca Chang – 7
• Anthony Flumefreddo – 11
• Sarah Robbins – 35
• Jonathan Egan – 18
• Matthew Egan – 16
• Juliette Scauso – 4
• Chris Strickland – 19
• Amanda Higley – 4
• Sara Rodrigues – 7
• Amanda Ogliby – 13
• Alana Tartaro – 6
• Danielle Tartaro – 5
• Andrew Tartaro – 2
• Salvatore Agnello – 3
• Vincent Agnello – 1
• Jessica Waring – 14
• Sean Kelley – 32
• Nicole Gabrielle Ogborn – 23
• Jacques Debeuneure – 32
• Gretchen Christophe – 11 months
• Mark Williamson – 14
• Kimberly Rex -19
• Katie Gann – 5
• David Gann – 13
• Emily Gann – 11
• Sarah Rollinson – 7
• Paige Rollinson – 10
• Stephanie Waring – 11
• Maria Waring – 9
• Jamie Waring – 4
• James Alario – 13
• Dante Alario – 9
• Marc Williamson – 14
• Jessica Williamson – 16
• Kristen Serra – 20
• Michael Fodor – 23
• Maria Galea – 43
• Patrick Hughes – 10
• Katherine Van Kirk – 26
• Sara Hart – 20 months
• Alyson Hart – 11 days
• Laura Spordone-Bustillo – 8 months
• Corbin Mayo – 11
• Kristen Ryan – 14
• Brendan Erwin – 2 months
• Jason Kane – 11
• Kristina Anaya – 8
• Brandon Anaya – 6
• Rebecca Anaya – 18 months
• Collin McHale – unborn
• Hayley Frederick – 4
• Andrew Frederick – 9
• Kathleen Serra – 46
• William Cunningham – 13 days
• Sierra Schlag – 5
• Michael Crisci – 15
• Gregory Gitto – 10
• Rebecca Asaro – 9
• Jack Napier – 9
• Brian Crowe – 25
• Daniella Giammona – 2
• Scott Edwards – 28
• Carl Asaro, Jr. – 13
• Caitlyn Nelson – 5
• Megan Foster – 8
• Nicole Foster – 5
• Peter Davidson – 7
• Casey Davidson – 3
• Erik Abrahamson – 10
• Marie Micklay – 5
• Kimberly Phelan – 17
• Erin Phelan – 14
• Daniel Phelan – 11
• Kenneth Phelan – 7
• Carol ONeil – 17
• Andy Boone – 21
• Hayley Morris – 5
• Madilynn Morris – 10
• Julie Beatini – 5
• Sasha Tanner – 13
• Gianna Tanner – 3
• Cassidy McCabe – 12
• Angela Mistrulli – 17
• Holly Cronin – 19
• James Cronin – 18
• Juliette Candela – 6
• John Candela – 4
• Sabrina Moliarno – 2
• Carl Moliarno – 21 days
• Olivia Perez – 10
• Sean Cahill – 15
• Derrick Hobin – 17
• Alexa Giorgetti – 6
• Paul Girogetta – 10
• Desiree DiDonna – 19
• Stefanni Parish – 16
• Stephen Simone – 32
• Mark Benard – 30
• Jason Diehl – 19
• Jeannette Diehl – 15
• Santi Yambem – 5
• Lisa Cardinali – 32
• Harris Bergsohn – 10
• Richard Gary – 20
• Jill Bernard-Ludmar – 26
• Michael Grimmer – 19
• Jennifer Jenkins – 25
• Kyle Allingham – 4
• Joseph McHugh – 10 months
• Sophia McHugh – 10 months
• Matthew McMahon – 19 months
• Patrick McMahon – unborn
• Emma Scandole – 4
• Patrick O’Hagen – 18 months
• Pierce O’Hagen – 18 months
• Larissa Gay – 8
• Raquel Cayne – 20 months
• Monica DiDonna – 30
• Anthony Martino – 27
• Matthew Martino – 17
• Sara Williams – 5 months
• Robert Cirri, Jr. 16
• Jessica Cirri – 12
• Sophia Amoroso – 18 months
• Gregory Todisco – 19
• Lisa Todisco – 21
• Christina Ianotti – 18 months
• Joseph Maher – 20
• Brendan Corrigan – 26
• Danielle Bruehart – 2
• Dominick Calia – 7
• George Gadiel – 20
• Chris Allingham – 6
• Danielle Green – 4
• Dorothea Wotton – 2
• Rodney Wotton – unborn
• Holly O’Neil – unborn
• Dakota Schlag – 10
• Leslee Houston – unborn
• Katie Bergin – 11
• John Bergin – 9
• Shannon Bergin – 6
• Roberta Chin – unborn
• Samantha Eisenberg – 16
• Lorraine Reilly – 13
• Sheryl Magnuson – 20
• Rebecca Chang – 7
• Alan Zukelman – 3
• Lisa Kennedy – 29
• Chris Maldonado – 9
• Jenna Calia – 12
• Jeff Magnuson – 23
• Erin Coughlin – 16
• Mark Filipkowski – 38
• Dina Marie – 21
• Tristan Joseph – 2
• Constantine Economos – 13
• Katherine Economos – 11
• Tanya Davis – 36
• Anthony Picerno – 13
• Kaylee Rosenberg – 2
• Vardna Jain – 17
• Sara McWilliams – 5 months
• Nikita Shah – 9
• Matthew Ferguson – 16
• Samantha Rosenberg – 5
• Kathryn Grazioso – 7
• Kristen Grazioso – 4
• Michael Grazioso – 10 months
• Kaylee Rosenberg – 2
• Daniel Maher – 24
• Elizabeth Haynes – 4
• William Haynes – 4
• T.J. Smith, Jr. 13
• Pam Boganoff – 18
• Jennifer Thompson – 25
• Bridget Bueche – 10
• Brandon Huggins – 6
• Jake Halloran – 15
• Conor Halloran – 13
• Aidan Halloran – 12
• Kieran Halloran – 8
• Declan Halloran – 2
• Phelan Halloran – unborn
• Michael Lynch – 2 1/2
• Jack Lynch – 6 months
• Charlie Straine – 6
• Finn Straine – 2 1/2
• Dean Zinzi – 2 months
• Maxwell Simpson – 6
• Leeann Simpson – 6
• Elania Simpson – 6
• Adam Vukosa – 2
• Austin Vukosa 0 7
• Jospeh Hasson, IV – 3 months
• Anna Sweeny – 5
• Elana Rosealbert – 11
• Lynette Rivera – 27
• Loren Faulkner – 18
• Ashley Faulkner – 13
• Timothy Aron – 11
• Jenna Griffin – 11
• Julie Griffen – 9
• Franseca Giammonan – 8
• William Krukowski – 9
• Colin Ryan – 14
• Iryna Ushakova – 24
• Olena Pavlova – 27
• Kristin Galush-Wild – 31
• Liam Stewart – 2 1/2
• Joseph DallaValla – 13
• Christie Horrocks – 9
• Amanda Stuart – 11 months
• Alessandra Spordone-Bustillo – 9 months
• Dayna Martinez-Bustillo – 7
• Allison Vadhan – 40
• Jacques Debeuneure – 32
• Rebecca Chang – 7
• Mark Whitford – 10
• Chloe McHugh – 5
• Vanessa Bernjamin – Wilson – 40
• David Beamer – 3
• Andrew Beamer – 1
• Morgan Beamer – unborn
• Tara Healy – 4
• Patrick Healy – 2
• Erin Healy – unborn
• Matthew Healy – unborn
• Melina Bartels – 7
• Eva Bartels – 4
• Jacob Kleinberg – 9
• Kyle Morris – 7
• Jill Regan – 22
• Timothy Fischer – 14
• Kayla Oelschlager – 8
• Carly Gordenstern – 3
• Jaclyn Schrang – 22
• Erin McNally – 13
• Maria Lipari – 40
• Brienne McNally – 11
• John Fischer – 9
• Laura Fischer – 12
• Jona Raub – 3 months
• Kayla Coughlin – 6
• Suzann Cayne – 7
• Dylan Garbani – 5
• Philip Garbani – 3
• Sarah Wodenshek – 9
• Haley Wodenshek – 8
• Mollie Wodenshek – 6
• William Wodenshek – 4
• Zachary Wodenthek – 2
• Kathleen Coppo – 22
• Isabelle Crawford – unborn
• Caroline Tumulty-Ollemar – 4 months
• Alexandria Catalano – 5
• Christopher Catalano – unborn
• Jasmine Victoria – 19
• Colin Shea – 4
• Abigail Shea – 2
• Margaret Shea – 7 months
• Gilbert Ruiz, Jr. – 30
• Michael Modafferi – 16
• Jessica Fiore – 16
• Jameer Hinds – 2
• Cristen Fiore – 13
• Jennifer Mascali – 21
• George Burke- 11 months
• Joseph Modafferi – 12
• Jaclyn Calia – 9
• Jeanna Calia – 12
• Christian Espinoza – 11
• Stephanie Espinoza – 9
• Christine Baione – 18
• James Gallagher – 2 months
• Christopher Maggeti – 21
• Katelyn Mascali – 8
• Tyler Manning – 10 months
• Francisca Wester – 29
• Christopher Neira – 20
• Julie Kellet – 5
• Cameron Kellet – 4
• Robert Tuomey – 16
• Tamia Merino – 11
• Joseph Crisci – 13
• Michael Fiore – 11
• Nicole Palazzo – 4
• Elyse Harell – 15
• Marissa Harell – 13
• Alejandro Munoz – 5
• Claudia Munoz – 2
• Yennake Hall – 24
• Salvatore Pepe – 18 months
• Santi Yamben – 5
• Francine Roman – 35
• Robert Bruno – 5
• Jason Bruno – 10
• Richard Friedman – 7 months

If you would like to add your name to the letter, please submit your name and the age you were on Sept. 11, 2001 below.