The email below is what I have sent on to the Governor of New York. Please read it all and if you agree, please send a few personal notes of your own. This would make a beautiful place for Americans to pay their respects. Donna Below is an email letter from Richard Eastman expressing the view of many genealogists around the country. I would like to add my name to the "petition if you will" for creating a memorial on this island. Thank you and God Bless New York and God Bless America! Donna Kjendlie Governor George E. Pataki State Capitol Albany, NY 12224 [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> Dear Governor Pataki: In these trying times following the deaths of thousands of people in New York and elsewhere on September 11, I know that you are very busy managing the state's rescue and recovery activities. However, I am sure that both the State of New York and the U.S. Federal Government will deem it appropriate to construct a memorial to the people who perished on that day. I respectfully submit that Governor's Island in New York Harbor would be an appropriate place for such a memorial. If you agree, immediate action is necessary. Governor's Island presently is for sale by the Federal Government and might even be sold to a private developer next month if action is not taken now. The federally owned island might be sold to the highest bidder in October and lost to the public forever. Many plans have been mentioned, including a casino or high-rise luxury apartments. Most of the rumored plans eliminate public access. Governor's Island is close to the location where the largest number of people perished. Millions of New York residents and visitors could easily access this location. This land is available today in an area where land is at a premium. It could be a peaceful place where people could go to contemplate the horrors and the meanings of this month's tragedy:, to remember those who lost their lives, to honor those who worked to save lives and recover the city, and to rekindle their own commitment to the preservation of our nation. I strongly suggest the State of New York or the U.S. Federal Government or both construct an appropriate memorial on Governor's Island. Regards, Richard Eastman