Families Of Unidentified 9/11 Victims Demand Remains Moved From Underground

The families of unidentified 9/11 victims are demanding their remains be removed from an underground chamber underneath the Sept. 11 museum.

The vacuum-sealed remains of 1,115 unidentified victims are concealed in a repository underneath the recently opened September 11 Memorial Museum in Manhattan. But as the grieving relatives wait for officials to identify the remains, they want their loved ones moved above ground into a Tomb of the Unknown, the New York Daily News reported.

"Take them out of the pit," Sally Regenhard, whose son died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks but was never found, told the newspaper. "Take them out of the dark. Bring them into the light."

Steve Cassidy, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, agrees with Regenhard. He said the museum's $24 entrance fee is like "putting a turnstile in a cemetery," the newspaper reported.

"It's a disgrace. People should not have to pay $24 to say a silent prayer because they never got anything back."

But the families of the victims are exempt from the admission fee. On top of that, the repository was part of a plan approved years ago by the same families that are now complaining, the newspaper reported. The space is complete with a secluded area reserved only for the relatives.

"Their whole story is ridiculous," Charles Wolf, who lost his wife on Sept. 11, told the Daily News.

Wolf said those who want the remains moved represented a small portion of the victims' families.

"Maybe some of the families changed their mind, but they are hurting those loved ones who never got remains," Wolf said. "This is a beautiful, respectful place...This repository is what we fought for. We fought very hard for this. We got everything we asked for."

In the meantime, scientists from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner are continuing with their efforts to identify the remaining victims, which is expected to be completed by December.