By Laura Lane Mervosh
The 45-minute interviews began March 25 and will continue in Boston and Virginia in an effort to find 30 individuals whose stories will best represent a cross-section of the tragedy's impact nationwide, regardless of income, race or creed. Justice Department officials hope the emotional testimony of victims' relatives will cinch their case.
East Meadow widows Patricia DeAngelis and Maureen Dominguez were contacted by the Justice Department.
DeAngelis, who lost her husband Thomas, a firefighter battalion chief for Engine 8, Ladder 2, declined, feeling that it would be too much for her to endure.
Dominguez agreed. Her husband, Carlos, age 34, had
been the chief of firewall security at Marsh &
McLennan. He had been trapped on the 95th floor of
tower one.
Dominguez said that she had no regrets about giving testimony and found the interview a positive experience, but did say that she found it difficult to be among the other victims' family members.
"A lot of people came down to say that they didn't want to testify, but wanted to be included in the history," she said. "We all realize that testifying won't be an easy experience. You'll have to relive it all over again."
Still, Dominguez remains committed to testifying if chosen, feeling confident that she will be able "to put her point across without breaking down." She said that the interview was not rushed, adding that Justice Department officials were professional and compassionate.
"I felt that I was treated with a lot of respect," she said. "Going to be interviewed was empowering for me. It was something that I could participate in."
Dominguez hopes that she will be chosen to testify, feeling that it will help to satisfy a need that she continues to experience.
"In this kind of a case, there are no clients. I had no say in what happened to my husband. We sat and watched it happen on TV," she said. "I feel that I could help in some way if I was chosen, and it's a way of getting the message out of how wonderful my husband was. I have no doubt that he would have done the same for me."
On April 6, a little less than two weeks after her interview with Justice Department officials, Dominguez answered her front door to find two policemen waiting. She thought that they came by to discuss past paperwork or ask further questions. Dominguez was surprised when the officers informed her that some of her husband's remains had been found at ground zero. The funeral for Carlos Dominguez was April 10.
Maureen Dominguez continues to wait for the call to find out if she will testify.
"I want people to know that human beings have been affected when the lives were lost. I am very interested in testifying."
