What matters most?

Here are some questions that might help you think about which items are most important for you to preserve for yourself or others:

• Do you want to save materials as part of the legacy of your loved one to share with future generations? 
• Do you or others in your family feel a strong emotional connection to certain items?
• Are there several similar items?  If so, might you keep just one or two?
• Is an item something you would be likely to display or use, or is it something you would put away for safe keeping?
• Does an item seem to capture something unique, important, or characteristic about the person?
• Does an item, or a group of items, help tell an important story about your loved one?
• Does an item, or a group of items capture some part of the story of 9/11 that might help other 9/11 survivors and families or people in the future understand the tragedy?  Do you wish to preserve the memory of your loved one as part the historical record? If so, you might consider donating the item or group of items to a historical repository that would preserve them and make them accessible to the public.
• What guidance do spiritual or cultural beliefs provide about holding on to or discarding these materials?
• Do all the members of your family agree about the disposition of these materials? If not, you may want to seek help to build consensus and receive support from your family members about your decisions.