The sun had hardly set when our loved ones were taken from us, so tragically, violently - too soon, forever. Never to be replaced, always remembered, loved and cherished. Arisen out of ocean's depths - interred in holy ground.

As the surviving families we are pledged to their memories, etched into our hearts - and minds.

Yet, life does not allow us too long the luxury of utter grief intruding with realistic necessities. Surrounded by the love and the affection of our friends - many new and hitherto unknown - we take the first steps to transcend from our sorrows into the start reality of daily life.

As we go home from the area of our catastrophic tragedy, and return to the warm embrace of our homes - sometimes devoid of the loved ones we lost - we may feel the need to keep informed on developing events, and to keep somewhat in touch with our new-found friends, our partners in sorrow.

As each group has a beginning, in joy and in grief, so does ours. We are a few of all of us, a beginning - to be developed through common misfortune, united by fate.

With the newsletter we would like to open the lines of communication among us.

As with "medical confidentially" issues, the founders of this family group requested TWA officials to forward this information to all families of victims on Flight 800. In this way, your privacy is maintained and participation remains voluntary.

Attached you will find a return card. Please let us know your exact name, address, telephone and fax numbers, and the name(s) of the loved one(s) you lost. Also, if you wish, the names of your families and friends who may wish to join us, or to whom you want our newsletter sent.

Please let us know if you wish to be actively involved in a bereaved family group, and most importantly any skills you may have.

As soon a we have your replies we shall proceed to set the date and find a place for a first family meeting, to bring us together, to mourn, to talk, to interact, but also to select those whom we may wish to participate in carrying on day-to-day work.

Anyone in our group able to assume any of the expenses of further family contacts, mailings or telephone (either in contribution or services), please indicate this on the attached information card.

Ours should be a democratic group, born out of pain, suffering, and despair, but also full of compassion with each other, resolve and interest to address the hard task ahead of us, to refocus our lives, to heal our wounds, and to tackle the common issues ahead of us, in harmony and unity.

Eight weeks have past since TWA Flight 800 fell from the sky and sank into the depths of the ocean. The tragedy of this event has changed our lives forever. The voids created by our common losses continue to haunt our lives.

Activity in the world continues as before. New crisis superseded ours and replace our headlines with occasional paragraphs. Feelings of confusion and isolation from the lack of information add to an already difficult effort to return to normalcy

The idea for this family group was born in the grief and confusion of the Ramada Inn. The needs expressed there lead to our first newsletter. The mailing of this letter was facilitated by TWA due to their inability to turn over a list of family names and addresses directly to us. Some families have misinterpreted this action and believed the organization was being created by sponsored by TWA. This is not and never has been the case. One hundred and forty three families(143) representing 115 victims responded to our request for addresses. Encouraged by their response we sought to create a formal family group which could speak with authority and be heard with one voice on issues particular to all of us.

A Progress Report on what we have accomplished and some ideas on the direction we are moving are as follows:

Through the unceasing efforts of John Seaman working with Dennis C. Vacco, the Attorney General of the State of New York, the families of TWA Fl. 800 have successfully achieved incorporated not for profit and a charitable fund status. A "tax exempt" application has also been completed and filed with the federal government.

A press release to the Associated Press and Reuters News Service as well as other leading local and regional papers will announce this information publicly in the near future.

Discussions are being held with a large corporation regarding the donation of a web page. This would provide us with a flow of continuous up to date information and will facilitate information sharing among families both here in the United States as well as in Continental Europe. Several members of our group have indicated interest and experience in this area. Efforts are being made to put these persons in contact with each other.

Family support groups have been the number one expressed need from all families responding thus far. Since leaving the Ramada many of us have not been able to find a group within which we could feel connected. Identifying and talking with others who are experiencing the same feelings of isolation and emptiness as we are; although we may be in different places in the grief process, is THE first step in healing and a major service we can provide for each other. In the next newsletter an article by Neil Fenton, Coordinator of Suffork Co. Mental Health and Disaster Response Teams and John Hichey his Nassau Co. counterpart will identify for us what we can expect next.

The dynamics of setting up local regional or national family meetings are complicated by the repisentation of at least 24 states and four foreign countries. To date I have volunteers from New York and New Jersey who will attempt to contact and set up the first family meetings in these areas. ANYONE wishing to function as a local organizer please feel free to contact me and I will provide you with a list for your area. I will also continue to make calls and solicit help from these volunteers already identified. Once local contacts have been set up, we can begin formulating a regional and national conferences.

There is a need to raise funds to provide working capital to facilitate communication among members as well as to assist identified needy families in the group. Many of us think it would be fitting to honor and thank in some way those who have risked their lives and who have worked so unselfishly on the search and recover operations of TWA Fl. 800. Anyone with any ideas or experience in this area can call me to volunteer their help.

The families of the French and Italian victims have scheduled an organizational meeting in Paris on the 28 th and 29 th of September. I will be attending the meeting to represent the American passengers Representatives from the NTSB, The State Dept., TWA, and four attorneys specializing in air disaster shave also been invited.

Joan Holst, who lost her son and daughter-in-law in the TWA Fl. 800 crash, attended the Hearing on Sept. 5th in Washington D.C. A report from her on the vise presidential investigation and aviation safety committee meetings is enclosed.

It is of primary importance to all of us to make ourselves heard to the Vice President Gore at this time. As Joan states The Vice President heads the commission on Aviation safety and Security. He has chosen to put off the Family Group meeting originally scheduled for Sept 20th till some time near the end of November in favor of his campaigning effort. As an elected official I am outraged at the though that V. P. Gore can't find three hours in his busy schedule to hear the family concerns, especially after President Clinton promised us at the Ramada that we could fully participate in these hearings.

Enclosed you will find a calling outline. Please take 5 minutes of your time to call Elaine Kmark and insure her that we care enough to want to be heard. We are not so grief stricken as not to be able to articulate and focus on the changes to be made in order to make a difference for the future. The more calls we have.....the louder the voice..... the less fragmented we appear. We cannot miss one window of opportunity. We must not allow this legitration to wait another 6 to 8 years.

Anyone receiving this newsletter please feel free to copy it and pass it on to other family members who are not on the list. Please encourage their membership.

Anyone who would like to contribute to the newsletter or person that is involved in a specific activity yet undisclosed.....please share. We are hungry for your information, participate and support.

The post office box used in the first newsletter for membership information is being discontinued. Please direct all future information for the Families Of TWA Fl. 800 to:

The last few weeks have been busy and meaningful to our organization. Many thing have happened that we need to share with all of you.

Our last newsletter shared the announcement of our newly achieved "incorporated" status. As with any organization that desires incorporation, a purpose or goal statement must define the mission of the group. We feel remiss that in our rush to validate our group, we failed to share our stated goals with our membership. Here listed are the goals of "The Families of TWA Flight 800 Assoc. Inc.":

• To improve communications
• To assist victims families in coordinating the resolution of family issues
• To provide emotional support
• To raise public awareness about victims issues
• To participate in the hearings about crisis management and the Vice Presidential Commission on Air Safety and Security
• To assist needy families in the group
• To achieve a lasting memorial to the victims of TWA Flight 800
• To honor the search and rescue groups.

Because we are all different, not everyone will feel the same level of commitment to each goal. However, by including most of the needs verbalized in our Ramada meetings, the goals were stated to provide something that everyone could identify with.

Formal thank you letters have been sent out to many of the organizations that provided assistance to us while we were staying at the Ramada Inn. Among those written were:

• A letter to the Ramada Inn Manager and Staff for providing superior customer service in all areas. These people watched, waited and cared for us in our hours of need. Many of them worked double shifts and performed "special" requests. We wanted them to know we appreciated their caring attitudes.
• A thank you was addressed to Nynex for the technical assistance and equipment provided to make simultaneous translation into three languages possible. This contribution turned tedious three hour meetings into tolerable one hour sessions.
• The American Red Cross was thanked for their provision of both physical and mental health services. The doctors, nurses and social workers provided countless hours of supportive inter-action as well as needed prescription and over-the-counter drugs, baby supplies and other items left behind in the haste of grief.
• Letters were written to the Inter-denominational clerical staff that provided the religious support which allowed us to pray and mourn together.
• A formal thank you was addressed to TWA for the expense and the thought put into their trauma team. The concept of "escorts" and the housing of family members in one location to provide support and information was new. Although everything wasn't done perfectly, a sincere attempt was made to provide for our needs.

A letter was submitted to President Clinton, petitioning him to recognize each diver who participated in the endless hours of search and recovery of our family members. We have requested a Medal of Honor be bestowed on each of them for their bravery and selfless commitment in the face of great personal danger. Copies of the letter have been sent to each agency who participated in the dive team effort. In our hearts we recognize this team as the "true heros" of this disaster.

Attached you will find a brief overview of the trip to Paris made by several members of our group. Anyone wishing a more detailed report , please send a stamped self-addressed envelope to John Seaman at our post office box and we will be happy to provide you with more information.

An inquest was held at the office of the Medical Examiner on Long Island on Sept. 25,1996. At this time it was decided that death certificates would be issued for all victims whose bodies had not been found and identified to this time. There are presently eighteen unfound victims from flight 800. Medical Examiner reports on the victims are in the process of being completed. These reports cannot be released until the cause of the tragedy has been determined. Any family member having difficulties with insurance companies or estate settlements, please call the Medical Examiners' office at 516-853-5555. They may be able to assist you by issuing a "verification of death" document.

Attached please find a copy of a report from Cindi Hurd who lost her brother Jamie on flight 800. She and her father Jim attended both the inquest and the signing of the Aviation Reauthorization Act of 1996 by President Clinton. We are sure that many of you can identify with the feelings Cindi has expressed.

Mr. Steve Scerri, Director of the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, was one of the volunteers who assisted in the search and recovery efforts on the burning waters the fateful night of July 17th. His idea of creating a lasting tribute to the victims began to take shape shortly thereafter. Supported by local Center Moriches residents and businesses, $5,000. was donated and a granite obelisk topped by an airplane was crafted at a Vermont foundry. The memorial was dedicated on Oct. 24th at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery at one o'clock (p.m.). Mr. Scerri hopes that the memorial will be a comfort to those left behind. Joan Holst and Josephine Bogensberger attended the ceremony as representatives of the family members of the victims. Mrs. Holst formally thanked Mr. Scerri and the city for their thoughtfulness .

Our webmaster (Harry Seaman) has been working diligently to create our world-wide web page. The site has been generously donated by Newsday. Great strides have been made and it is ready for access. Our on line address is HTTP://members.aol.com/hseaman275/families.html. In the future our newsletter as well as other contributed information will appear on line. Anyone wishing to place any information on the web page please send it to: Harry Seaman, c/o our P.O. Box. He will load it on line for the information to be shared. Please remember that this is public information and not limited to the families of victims. Anyone wishing to add a photo and a short biography/description on the memorial page is encouraged to do so. You may wish to be selective in the information you share if it is of a personal nature.

Mr. Monty Siekerman of Ohio who lost his daughter Ann and son-in-law Kyle, has sent in the information on other internet sites available for information. We have attached this article along with another note from him regarding potential insurance benefits for victims families. We thank him for bringing this to our attention and hope it will be useful for others in our group. Mr. Siekerman, who is employed by a large Ohio University, has requested one of their jewelry design classes to consider working on a lapel pin to commemorate the Flight 800 disaster. When completed we could commission these to be made and distributed to the family members.

We have been advised by Peter Goelz, that the NTSB and the FBI in conjunction with Kenyan International Emergency Services, will begin the process of returning personal effects of the victims of TWA flight 800. The FBI has agreed to release for return all items that have been held in the secure area at Calverton, Long Island. Some items of significant monetary value (ie.rings, jewelry, travelers checks etc.) have been identified and associated with a particular victim. These will be returned promptly. For those items not associated with a victim, a description will be included and if you believe that the item belonged to your family member, you will be asked to view a photograph of the item and confirm identification. Once identification has been confirmed, the item will be returned.

The FBI continues to hold general items of personal belongings associated with victims. These items are still being examined by the FBI, but will be released shortly to Kenyan (the TWA contracted service) who will also facilitate their return.

The FBI has almost completed the process of photographing all of the items unassociated with a particular victim. The NTSB will be working with Kenyan to put a plan in place to ensure the return to family members of as many of these items as possible.

You may expect to hear from Kenyan International in the near future. They may be reached at 713-525-7761.

** also** The number for the NTSB has recently changed. The new number is 202-314-6120.

The article long promised by Mr. Fenton, the Coordinator of Suffolk Co. Mental Health Disaster response has not been received to date. Mr. Fenton has been heavily involved in the debriefing process for the divers and search teams that are beginning to be disbanded.

Mr. Jacques Thiroux, from Bakersfield California, is a retired professor and long time grief counselor. He has written an article on the phases of grief and what we can expect. We have included it in this newsletter and hope that you will find this information helpful as a basis in understanding where you are in the process. Please remember that these phases do not follow in sequence or in an orderly succession. You may slide in and out of any of them at any time. Mr Thiroux has included his e-mail address for anyone who would like to send him specific questions. He has agreed to continue this column for as long as anyone wishes. We thank him for his generous support.

Our hope for the near future of this organization is to form regional groups that will meet regularly and bring families together to support each other. These regional groups will serve as the clearing for needs to be expressed and formally addressed as well as the place for decisions to be made. A telephone for quick information sharing of information would also be helpful at this level. Presently we have seven volunteers to begin calling area families to organize regional meetings. These volunteers are: Natali Bonsbi - Baltimore, Md. area; Michael Grogan - Chicago, Ill. area; Priscilla Gladman - Ohio area; Joseph Ortiz - Florida area; Joan Holst and Heidi Snow - N.Y. area; Barbara Grahm - Cal. area; Julie Stewart - Conn. area. We thank these members for their willingness to bring these area families together. Many more volunteers are needed in other areas. Please call or write and indicate your interest and a list of area families will be provided to you.

If you have any information you would like to contribute to the newsletter or the world wide web please feel free to send them ahead. As we talk individually to each of you, we are always surprised and impressed in what you are doing and have accomplished. Everyone is interested in what you have done to help ease your grief and create your own memorial to your lost family member. Some of us are still in an immobile state, and by sharing what you are doing, you help to create a sense of vision and purpose for those who have not reached that stage as yet. We also would ask you to share any skills you may have with the group. Volunteers in all areas of business, law, graphic design, typing, secretarial, banking, accounting, fund-raising etc. are needed. When many people participate and assume ownership, the organization becomes more meaningful to all members.

We received a call from a Mother who lost her 19 year old son in an automobile accident on July 27th.. Although she is not a flight 800 family member, she is in pain and reaching out for help. Anyone interested in corresponding with her please write to: Mrs Debbie Quinlivan, 84 White Rd., Ballston Spa, N.Y. 12020.

We received a pamphlet from an organization called the Wings of Light. Like ours it is a survivor network providing support and information for individuals whose lives have been touched by aircraft accidents. For more information contact Wings of Light, 16845 N. 29th Ave Suite 1-448, Phoenix, Az. 85023. Phone is (602) 516-1115. Web is: http:www.flightdata.com/wol

Interviews of the immediate family members by the FBI are near completion. The field officers who spoke with our family were kind, sensitive and caring individuals. The questions posed were objective and for the most part anticipated, covering things like "did anyone meet your daughter at the airport?" and "was there anyone who would have wished her bodily harm, or benefited from her death?". The agents did share a picture of a badly damaged suitcase and questioned if it belonged to us or our daughter. This suitcase apparently was unidentified. They did not state if they suspected something had exploded inside it or only near it. They also didn't identify if it was found in the cargo area or as a carry on item. Our agents asked us if we knew of a certain persons name. This person had a piece of luggage on the flight, however there was no ticketed passenger by that name. We checked our data base of family members, in the event that the bag had been borrowed from a family member, but there was nobody on our list with a similar name. We were quick to inform these agents that our list was not all of the family members. There was no connection made between the piece of luggage shown and the name questioned.

We are spread out from coast to coast and the further away we get from N.Y., the less likely it is that we will get accurate and timely information. Our sincere hope is that through this newsletter we will feel a bit more informed and more connected with each other.

Addresses to which communications can be sent:

On Sept. 28. there were two meetings in Paris attended by about 175 European family members, including a number of American representatives.

The first meeting, in the morning, was hosted by the French authorities and included the NTSB (Bob Francis and Peter Goelz) and their French counterpart, who is collaborating in the investigation. They gave a thorough briefing, but there was little new to report. During the question and answer period a few issues were raised. Regarding the Coroner, the actual cause of death was requested for each victim. Also an accounting of the unidentified remains was requested, as well as the opportunity for the families to have the final say in how they are handled. The NTSB said that they would meet and convey this to the Coroner. Regarding personal effects, they hope to be releasing more in the next few weeks. Regarding unpaid funeral expenses, the NTSB said they would raise it with the airline.

In general, the NTSB pledged to continue the investigation and once they have sufficient evidence, to share their findings with the families before any general announcement.

The second meeting, in the afternoon, included about 40-50 people, representing the Europeans and a few Americans. Also, four law firms were invited by the European organizers. They were soliciting clients, but no Americans "signed up", feeling it was inappropriate at this time. The European organizers proposed that they form an international association which would be based in Strasbourg, France. We pointed out we already have an association open to all, incorporated as a not-for-profit in New York State. There were a number of concerns voiced by several families including: 1)deciding on a set of by-laws without being able to read them first; 2) electing people unknown to us to a four year tern to run the organization; 3) deciding, without having a chance to think about the proposal or discuss it with the American families; 4) basing an organization in France when 80% of the families are in America.

The organizers decided to start to set up a European group anyway. For these and other reasons, the American representatives declined to join the organization. A number of families left, and those that remained began to form their own European group. We indicated we hoped to work cooperatively with them on matters of shared interest as they present themselves.

October 7, 1996

My name is Jacques P. Thiroux. I am a retired philosophy professor from Bakersfield College and California State University, Bakersfield. I taught a course there for 16 years called "Ethics of Living and Dying". I also was a co-facilitator of the Bereaved Persons Association, the first bereavement group in Bakersfield, for about 15 years and was involved in establishing Kern Hospice Services here in Kern County being a member of its board. Chris Becker, whose sister Michele, died on Flight 800, asked me if I would contribute something to your newsletter, which by the way I think is a marvelous idea, so here goes.

Some of you may have already been given some of this information, but please bear with me. Dr. Colin Murray Parkes, psychologist, formerly with St. Christopher's Hospice in London, established four phases of grief:

1. Numbness and shock -denial and guilt.
   1. Shock
   2. The reality of the loss is partially disregarded.
2. Yearning - bargaining and hope.
   1. There is an urge to recover the person who has been lost.
   2. There is an urge to recover the permanence of the griever's relationship with that person.
3. Disorganization and despair - guilt, anger, depression and partial acceptance.
   1. The fact of the permanence of the loss is recognized and accepted.
   2. Attempts to recover the lost person are given up.
4. There is a reorganization of one's behavior - acceptance. Geoffrey Gorer describes three stages of successful grief work when grievers are ready:
   1. Grievers must separate themselves from the deceased by breaking the bond that holds them together.
   2. They must then readjust to an environment from which the deceased is missing.
   3. They must strengthen old and present vital relationships and form new ones.

They must work through these stages at their own pace, in their own time, and when they are ready. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, who wrote ON DEATH AND DYING and was a pioneer in the field of death, dying, grief and bereavement described five stages of grief:

1. Denial - "No, not me; it can't be me- there must be some mistake".
2. Anger - "Why me or why now?"
3. Bargaining - "Yes it's me, but maybe if I'm good, I can be cured by a miracle or I can have more time, or maybe God will bring back the person I lost".
4. Depression - "Yes it's me, and it's sad and depressing."
5. Acceptance - "Yes , it's me, and it's okay."

The most important ways to deal with grief are people support and communication. Good communication involves listening and hearing, not just talking. Some of the problems in trying to communicate grief are:

1. Everyone suffers the loss, but the emotional energy to support one another is often lacking, and men and women grieve differently. In our culture, women are allowed to express their feelings, but men are discouraged from doing so and often become workaholics or alcoholics or both because they can't express their feelings and appear "unmanly".
2. People often refrain from talking about their feelings to protect one another. Have you been afraid to share your grief for this reason?
3. There is often blame and gilt about not having done enough for those who died or not having talked them out of taking that flight for example. Have you experienced this?
4. There is difficulty and lack of feeling comfortable in expressing one's feelings. Have you ever experienced this?
   1. How often have you said, "I just don't know what to say"? Many who feel this way will often stop trying to express their grief or abandon the griever, which usually does not help.
   2. You can encourage people to express themselves by asking questions, drawing them out, touching them, and communicating non-verbally. Some of our best communication is non-verbal (touching, hugging, holding hands).
5. Grievers may displace their anger on one another. What can one do when this happens? How can you deal with such anger when directed at you or anyone else? You can encourage grievers to express and even help them express their anger. You must not try to be judgmental and not take personally anger which is directed at you. Alleviate their anger where you can. Often remedying little things that they are angry about can help. Anger must be resolved before grief can be worked through.
6. Recognize the great variability of individual grief patterns. Have you noticed them in yourself and others?

In conclusion, we must recognize everyone is different and will therefore grieve differently. We must not force people through the phases or the stages, but make ourselves available to listen to and help them. We must be willing to listen and support them in their grief at whatever level they need these. And, lastly, we must encourage them to talk and/or write their thoughts and feelings in a diary or letters to the person they have lost.

I think that's enough for this time. If you and Chris want me to , the next time I will discuss problems that interfere with grief resolution and what must be done (in more detail) to get through grief work and arrive at acceptance. My email address is Jacquesp@aol.com. if you have any questions or comments, especially things you would like me to address. I am thinking about you and those you lost and have been since the crash.

Much information is available on the Internet for those of you who have access to the World Wide Web. One good source is: http://pathfinder.com/@@jYfmgUABC6fAmqR/time/twa/sites.html

There you will find home pages from the FBI, TWA, FAA, Coast Guard, NTSB, and one titled "Flight 800 Families Links", and a dedication page for Montoursville students. It also has background information on Boeing 747s, Civil Aviation Safety Documentation Archive, State Department, and airports in Athens, JFK and Paris. Further, there is CNN, NY Times, Los Angeles Times, Newsday, and Nando News coverage. Newsday is among the best. Also at that address, you'll find five sites titled "Arab Perspective" but there isn't much there about flight 800.

You can delve deeper for more information. For example, "Flight 800 Families Links" gives you a discussion group where you can read (and join, if you wish) discussion about the tragedy-- but much of it is about the crash theories and cover-ups. There is also information on this page connecting you to history of 747 crashes, Boeing, and much more.

Often times, information appears on the Web quickly. For example, the day President Clinton signed the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 1996, the story and photo of the event were posted on the Web by 12:15 p.m. that day, which was shortly after its occurrence.

Those with Internet access can keep up to date on TWA Flight 800 and general airline safety and security from many sources.

INSURANCE

On September 28, there were two meetings in Paris, to which many European families went, as well as several American family members. A number of representatives from our Association attended as well. Here follows a brief summary of events.

• September 28, morning meeting

  This meeting began at about 10 A.M. It was hosted by French Authorities in their facilities, just off Avenue Kleber, in Paris. It included representatives of the NTSB (Bob Francis and Peter Goelz), the FBI, the French equivalent of the NTSB-known as the Accident Investigation Bureau-, additional representatives of the French government, and about 170-200 family members and friends of victims of the Flight 800 crash. Translations into English were not 100% but we got most of what was said.

  After introductions, there was as extensive summary briefing by Bob, Peter, and their French NTSB colleagues. The briefing included a color video, two large charts and a long question and answer period. They emphasized the joint nature of the crash investigation, and that the French and Americans working together had previous shared experience as well.

  They all said the three major theories are each continuing to be pursued: 1) a mechanical failure 2) a bomb 3) a missile. Regarding these, they have interviewed thousands of witnesses and, as we all know, are continuing their search and recovery effort regarding the plane and unrecovered passengers and belongings.

  They talked about the possibility of a bomb being in a container of retinas being transported in the planes cockpit. But, they said there is no sign of an explosion there.

  They talked about the possibility of a missile being fired by a nearby Navy ship. But, they said it was not possible. The only ship was 200 miles away and didn't have any missiles on board that could even go that far.

  They said they reviewed the records for the airplane itself and said it was found to be "airworthy".

  They said they compared the sound-burst on the TWA 800 flight recorders to the sound on the Pan Am 103 flight (and others) and could not establish a "match" of the sound.

  They also said there was no identifiable pattern in the incidence of unrecovered passengers ( 17 people are unrecovered, 1 is recovered but still not identified).

  They are still looking for one last fuel pump, called the scavenger pump, and are anxious to recover and examine it.

  In summary, they appeared tired, frustrated, and as determined as ever to keep searching and analyzing until they have the evidence in hand to make a decision about the cause of the crash. When they do so, they said the families will know first, regardless of the cost or difficulty involved in the notification process.

  There then followed an extensive question and answer period, during which reference was made to a number of theories or rumors circulating about cover-ups and conspiracies, as well as regular aspects of the investigation. No real news came out of this, but a number of family issues were identified, although they have already been raised in America to our Association and various responsible authorities. (We hope to have a full transcript of the meeting available soon from the NTSB. It will give a much fuller picture of the meeting. We don't know yet how we will get it out to the members, due to it's size, weight and the resulting cost of the mailing. Any contributions would be helpful.)

  The issues involved three areas: 1) the Suffolk Co. medical examiner, 2) the personal effects and 3) funeral expenses.

  Regarding the medical examiner, families requested to be informed of the official autopsy results, specifically the exact cause of death. Also, the families requested an accounting of all recovered and unidentified remains of victims, and that the disposition of these remains be submitted to the families for a decision by them, not the medical examiner or the airline. The NTSB agreed to pursue this immediately with the coroner on their return to the U.S.

  Regarding the personal effects, it was reported that 345 "collections" of personal effects have been identified, but 208 of these have not yet been associated with specific passengers. Some of these collections can be released soon, while some the FBI still deems necessary to be held for investigation purposes. Those to be released should be ready in a couple of weeks. An inventory of French effects was provided by the NTSB, and a commitment was made to distribute a list of American effects within another week.

  Regarding the last issue, unpaid funeral expenses, it was noted that some expenses have been paid, some not. There seemed to be no pattern. Both U.S. and European families have unpaid bills, and some are modest, some are larger. The NTSB said they are meeting with the TWA president and will add this issue to those already on the table for discussion.

  This is pretty much it for the morning meeting. But, for those of us who spent weeks in the Ramada, it was good to see Peter and Bob again. They asked that we extend their regards to everyone, and renewed their pledge to do everything they can to get to the truth.
  

• September 28, afternoon meeting

  The afternoon meeting was hosted by a European "organizing committee". It was held at a facility on Avenue Kleber. It appeared to be attended by 50-60 family members, including about seven Americans. Also invited were four American law firms. They were there to solicit clients. Although there were conflicting reports about how many they "signed up" (from 1-21), the Americans generally felt it was not an appropriate time to do so.

  A meeting began after an hour or so. The intention, it was announced, was to start an association of families of Flight 800 victims. We pointed out that an Association was already begun at the Ramada with 70 original families, and that since then the number has grown to approximately 200 from all over. We also shared with the organizers that the Association was incorporated in New York State, with the help of the Attorney General, on August 27. (We had previously shared copies of the incorporation papers with the organizers and the French Consulate General in New York City.) Nonetheless, they wanted to start another group that would be based in France. They said the current organization could be a part of the European one they were proposing. There was discussion and agreement on goals which were essentially the same as those encompassed in the already established association, including helping the families, finding out what happened, pursuing a memorial, and afterward adding the pursuit of changes to prevent/ minimize the impact of future crashes. We added some ideas, including use of a Website for communication.

  After this there was extensive discussion which seemed to emphasize money issues and litigation. This was presented as a major reason why the families in the room should start another association, one specifically empowered to take legal actions.

  They asked that we agree to this, and a document of twenty nine articles of incorporation and rules, then elect officers.

  Unfortunately, they didn't have copies in English, despite the Americans traveling 4000+ miles at their invitation. Later, a part of the document (one third maybe) was produced.

  We pointed out that we couldn't agree to a document without 1) having a chance to read it; 2) having a chance to review and discuss the provisions; and 3) bringing the proposal back to the 200 American members and getting their feelings on the matter. We suggested that they should have shared the document with us in advance if they wanted our input. Nonetheless, they wanted to proceed.

  They introduced an attorney (French I think) who urged everyone in the room to agree now, and not worry about the details. We were concerned that since "voting" was proposed to be done in France at meetings held there, this would effectively preclude any real American or other input.

  A number of other people raised objections about being asked to act too hastily, without time to think about the material handed out. One questioned what the hurry as. Another also questioned the wisdom and appropriateness of electing these men to positions of office for a four year period, when they didn't even know them, and suggested shorter terms.

  All objections were put aside. I'd estimate 20-25% of the people left, as the meeting unfolded. We thanked them for the invitation to be folded into their European group, but declined to participate any further until we could look at the specifics and discuss them with our members. After offering to work cooperatively with them on shared goals as the opportunity presents itself, we also left the meeting.

  They continued to proceed and set up an essentially European association. I'm sure we'll be hearing more from them, since they indicated a desire to have everyone be part of their group.

  Unfortunately, this afternoon meeting was not as helpful or productive as the morning one.
  

The attached letter was sent to TWA protesting their disgraceful actions concerning the family remains still held by the Suffolk County Coroner's Office. Their clandestine efforts to take possession of those remains, and dispose of them without consultation and consent by the surviving families members, are outrageous. When discovered by our Families' Association, they were stopped with the cooperation of the NTSB and the Coroner's office. Subsequently, TWA has tried to turn their efforts into a "mock funeral" only for the families who have not recovered their lost, excluding all others. Despite all objections by family members and other parties, they have persisted to rush to an ill-considered action on December 4. They are doing this regardless of the hurtful impact on the surviving families.

The Families of the Victims of TWA 800 strongly protest the planned actions by TWA Airlines in connection with an airline memorial service and "symbolic burial" currently scheduled for December 4, at 2 p.m., at the Pinelawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Farmingdale, Long Island. This TWA orchestrated event typifies the disregard that has been shown for the family survivors. TWA's handling of this entire process has been characterized by arrogance, callous disregard for the impact on families, and contempt for the real needs of the people whose lives have been ruined. TWA has, in effect, re-victimized the Flight 800 families.

First, the TWA approach to this event has created a new nightmare for our families. The families were not informed of the attempt to put together an arrangement with the Coroner's office which included TWA taking possession of our family remains. What arrogance! Once we learned of it, and through the NTSB and the Coroner's office put a stop to it, TWA refused to discuss our objections, or accommodate our legitimate concerns. This, despite weeks of intensely stressful efforts forced by TWA on the many family members as we tried to mitigate these disgraceful actions. This approach has been ill-considered by whomever is responsible at TWA, and creates a portrait of a corporation contemptuous of those it has victimized.

Second, the resulting plan of action by TWA is ill-timed and inconsiderate. There is no reason this event must be scheduled in the middle of Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah. Those who care know that this is an unbearably stressful time for surviving family members. Many are requiring therapy and medication just to get through these family holidays. The Dec. 4 date totally disregards the impact on our families, is grossly insensitive, and should be postponed.

Third, TWA's plans are divisive and exclusionary. TWA refused to notify or include anyone except those families who have unrecovered victims, and has manipulated events so that any other participation is difficult, if not impossible. The NTSB undertook to appropriately notify all families. But the short notice (only 7-10 days in many cases) created by TWA has the effect of making it practically and financially impossible for families to participate. It should be re-scheduled and arranged so all families have an honest opportunity to participate.

Forth, the result is an event that appears hypocritical. TWA proposes a plaque as the centerpoint of the memorial with all the victims names inscribed, creating the impression of honoring all those lost. But to unilaterally choose an unrelated location, to use peoples names without review and consent by their families, and to pursue an approach that is divisive and exclusionary and makes the whole TWA affair appear disingenuous and hypocritical.