Outrage of 9/11 families after $2 service charge is rolled out for Manhattan memorial
The National September 11 Memorial
and Museum is now charging visitors who reserve passes online or over
the phone a $2 service fee. This has upset some of the relatives of
those who died in the 9/11 attacks.
The New York Post reports the fee went into effect on March 1, although there is no charge for admission or same-day passes to the memorial on the World Trade Center site.
But family members of some 9/11 victims say the fee violates the memorial's mission. The father of a firefighter who died there tells the newspaper 'you wouldn't charge money to get into a cemetery.'
The Post reports that the nonprofit organization had long promised that that entrance to the site would be free.
Sally Regenhard, whose firefighter son, Christian, died in attacks told the Post: 'I don’t want the American public to have to pay a dime to pay respects to my son.'
'They made.. a vow that no one would ever be charged for going to the memorial, but money is the bottom line here,' Regenhard added.
Jim Riches, a retired FDNY deputy chief, whose son Jimmy died on 9/11, said 'They’re making money off the people that died. It’s disgusting... The memorial should be free for everybody to pay their respects.'
Memorial President Joe Daniels says the fee is necessary to help support its operations.
The memorial's website says the reservation system is temporary until certain construction projects are finished. The memorial will be free when it is completed as a public plaza.
The Post reports that between 2006 and 2011, the nonprofit received about $295 million in taxpayer-funded money and more than $430 million in private donations after the attacks.
The New York Post reports the fee went into effect on March 1, although there is no charge for admission or same-day passes to the memorial on the World Trade Center site.
But family members of some 9/11 victims say the fee violates the memorial's mission. The father of a firefighter who died there tells the newspaper 'you wouldn't charge money to get into a cemetery.'
Tribute: A family visit the engraved name of a
relative who died in the 9/11 attacks at the memorial. Some families are
upset by the introduction of a $2 service charge for entry to the site
Sally Regenhard, whose firefighter son, Christian, died in attacks told the Post: 'I don’t want the American public to have to pay a dime to pay respects to my son.'
'They made.. a vow that no one would ever be charged for going to the memorial, but money is the bottom line here,' Regenhard added.
Jim Riches, a retired FDNY deputy chief, whose son Jimmy died on 9/11, said 'They’re making money off the people that died. It’s disgusting... The memorial should be free for everybody to pay their respects.'
Anger: Sally Regenhard, whose firefighter son,
Christian, died in attacks said: 'I don¿t want the American public to
have to pay a dime to pay respects to my son'
Memorial President Joe Daniels says the fee is necessary to help support its operations.
The memorial's website says the reservation system is temporary until certain construction projects are finished. The memorial will be free when it is completed as a public plaza.
The Post reports that between 2006 and 2011, the nonprofit received about $295 million in taxpayer-funded money and more than $430 million in private donations after the attacks.
