BOSTON, Updated 12:50 p.m. EDT September 9, 2002 -- --Families of Bay State victims lost in the Sept. 11 attacks unveiled plans for a permanent memorial to their loved ones during a special announcement Monday at Boston's Public Garden.
NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that the garden was chosen by the families of victims, where a permanent public memorial will be placed near the small lake where Swan Boat rides take place each summer.
A large tree will be removed and a plaque will be erected that will contain the names of all 93 Massachusetts residents who were killed on Sept. 11. Many of their family members attended the announcement.
"Many of us have no place to put the emotions that we feel. We don't have a grave site and some of us never will. A place where we can visit our loved ones and deposit the pain, at least for awhile," said Christie Coombs, of Abington, Mass., who lost her husband Jeffrey in the attacks.
For Coombs, the garden memorial will be a place to come remember Jeffrey. Bill Connors will also be able to come remember his brother, and Claudia Jacobs can come to think about her brother.
"It's serene. It's quiet," Jacobs said.
"It's a place where he would like to be remembered. Unfortunately, no one will ever recover his body, I don't believe, and this will be a place where, like with so many other people, where you could come to remember him," said Connors.
"Those families will be able to come here and spend a few moments and know that all of us are with them and they're with us in our hearts and our souls, and they will know that they will be forever remembered," said Sen. Ted Kennedy during the announcement.
Family members were invited to a fundraising breakfast for the MASS 911 Fund. Donations are still needed.
"I now have two children who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome," said Cindy McGinty, who lost her husband Michael in one of the World Trade Center towers. Her family still needs help with medical bills.
"My oldest is on medication for depression, anxiety, stress and sleep. My youngest craves my attention and is whiney and clingy. He's too scared to start school. He's afraid he can't do the work and will disappoint Daddy in heaven," McGinty said.
Many of the Sept. 11 victims' families are still very much in need of financial help for medical bills. Some lost their health insurance. They will receive financial counseling and help with legal problems through theMASS 911 Fund
Many Boston-area communities, churches and universities will be holding services this week and on Sept. 11. CLICK HERE FOR EVENTS INFORMATION.
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