Medical Examiners’ Meeting
June 3, 2002
By: Kathy Ashton, Mother of Tommy Ashton

As of 6/3/02, The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has identified 1,109 people from the attack on the World Trade Center. Testing will continue until the limits of science have been exhausted. Within the next 2 months, and while testing continues, the OCME will begin the process of long term preservation of remains. This is to ensure the possibility of future DNA identifications. The process to be used is the best method available for this purpose. The Medical Examiner has reiterated the promise that no remains will be discarded, cremated or buried anonymously.

All WTC remains are under the control of the OCME. They are maintained at the east end of 30th Street (off 1st Ave) in an area known as Memorial Park, a temporary resting place. Housed inside the large white tent of Memorial Park are a series of refrigerated units holding remains of loved ones lost in the WTC attack. All remains are kept separate with their own unique identifier. Memorial Park will remain in place until the identification process is complete.

While it is not open to the general public, families and their invited guests may visit Memorial Park. Beginning June 5, 2002, families may call 212-447-7884 to SCHEDULE a visit. Memorial Park hours are 8:00am – 9:00am, 2:00pm – 3:00pm, and 7:00pm – 8:00pm 7 days a week. Up to 20 people may visit per hour. You will be asked to provide your loved one’s “P”, “T” or “RM” number when scheduling a visit. Additionally, you will be asked to provide the names of ALL people who will accompany you. The first time you visit, you will be asked to show ID. At that time, if you desire, you will be issued a photo ID that you can use in the future. The first time you visit Memorial Park, please arrive ½-1 hour ahead of visitation hours to show and process IDs.

While the OCME is committed to accommodating visitation by families, Memorial Park is a working facility. Therefore, unscheduled visits are NOT available. Also, the visits will end promptly at the scheduled time. If you are late for your appointment, you will still be able to visit, but only until the scheduled end of that visit. Also, the following are NOT permitted: pets (except for seeing-eye dogs), photographs, videotape or any other type of recording devices.

Anyone wishing to donate flowers to Memorial Park may do so.