Toomey Calls for Answers on
Treatment of 9/11 Victims' Remains

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) sent a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta today asking him to clarify if any remains from the Pentagon and United Flight 93 were cremated and disposed of in a landfill.

According to a Washington Post report today, small amounts of unidentified remains from Shanksville, Pa., the site of the United Flight 93 crash, and the Pentagon were cremated and then sent to a landfill for disposal.

However, Somerset County (Pa.) Coroner Wallace Miller told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review today that no remains from United Flight 93 were ever sent to a military mortuary for disposal.

“The heroic passengers on United Flight 93 gave the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, and their families deserve to know the fate of their remains. It is critically important that we get to the bottom of this matter, clear up any remaining doubts, and ensure that those responsible for any mishandling of remains be held accountable,” Sen. Toomey writes.

The full text of the letter is below.

February 28, 2012

The Honorable Leon E. Panetta
Secretary of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301-1000


Dear Secretary Panetta:

I write to request information regarding the disposal of human remains recovered from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pa.

I am deeply disturbed by press reports today indicating that some of these remains may have ended up in a landfill. According to a Washington Post report today, small amounts of unidentified remains from Shanksville and the Pentagon were cremated and then sent to a landfill for disposal.

However, Somerset County (Pa.) Coroner Wallace Miller told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review today that no remains from United Flight 93, which crashed in Shanksville, were ever sent to a military mortuary for disposal.

In light of these conflicting accounts, I ask that you promptly clarify if any remains from the Pentagon and United Flight 93 were cremated and disposed of in a landfill.

The heroic passengers on United Flight 93 gave the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, and their families deserve to know the fate of their remains. It is critically important that we get to the bottom of this matter, clear up any remaining doubts, and ensure that those responsible for any mishandling of remains be held accountable.

Thank you for your service and your prompt attention to my request.

Sincerely,

Pat Toomey
U. S. Senator



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