“United in Memory Quilt”
transforms courage, tears, and patriotism to
hope and remembrance
Turning an idea whose time has come into action can lead creators
beyond their dreams. Certainly Corey Gammel and thousands of volunteers
are discovering truth in this observation.
Imagine, if you will, that tears of the heart were falling all over
the world. Imagine that distance makes little difference when caring
runs deep in hearts far from the homefront. Imagine thousands of
hands, motivated by thousands of hearts, stitching independently, yet in
concert, for one soul at a time. Imagine, too, a heavenly chorus in
a place that knows no boundaries, singing in one everlasting medley of
courage and love.
Imagine a quilt large enough to cover a football field. A
comforter of heroic measure. A comforter sewn stitch by stitch in every
one of our 50 states and in 16 countries, each stitch an offering of
caring, meant to ease the pain unleashed at Ground Zeroes on 9-1-1.
Imagine this great blanket of caring traveling silently from the West
Coast to the East Coast ready to help hold memories of beloved families
and friends high on the United States of America’s agenda. High on the
world’s agenda.
Corey’s idea took root in the dark days following last September 11
and with a flood of kindred spirits saying “Yes!” to his vision, this
gigantic quilt is in the final stages of completion as this piece is
written and read. Quilters from throughout all 50 of the United
States and more quilters from sixteen countries around the world have
each made one or a couple of oversize blocks (18 1/2 inch square) for
each of the 9-1-1 American tragedy victims.
Incredible hearts have found the making of this “United in Memory
Quilt” a vehicle for working through the pain to offer memories and
hope. Thanks to quilters’ internets, six hundred of the quilters
stitched in Australia, according to Corey, and many others from European
countries.
All wanted to do something, most were unsure at first what form
that might take, As the quilt comes together, a sense of awe is taking
hold. This “United in Memory” quilt is surpassing preliminary visions
and dreams. Indeed it has changed Corey’s life, infusing him with awe.
Each memorial block tells a story and is a story in itself.
Certainly the stories remember and reflect something of the lives of
each person caught up in horrific moments while they worked and suddenly
became beacons in history. The stitching of each quilt block became a
reflective bond of caring between quilter and victim.
One block depicting the sky, seagulls, waves, and sand, for
instance, bears the same name, similar age, and love of the same
Delaware beaches as that of the quilter’s uncle. Both Robert Spencers
died much too young and this quilter linked the tears of two families.
Another block memorial remembers the only brother of a prominent
World Trade Center survivor who lost most of his 700-member business
staff and was the poignant voice that brought this quilter to wrenching
sobs as she felt the deep unbelievable pain of that horrific New York
City day. This block captures Lady Liberty and the twin towers in the
kind of light hearted sunny day that probably was the view Gary Lutnick
enjoyed before his last day’s New York experience.
Some blocks show pictures of the remembered one, others focus on
memories revealed through research. Some are in patriotic colors,
others show the New York City skyline, the twin towers, firefighters,
or the Statue of Liberty. Some have poetry, prayers, family, or
remembrances. Many create symbols of hope.
So many stories, so many lost at Ground Zero, so many children
losing parents, so many colors, so many stitches, so many breaking
hearts caught up in this project, now emerging with awesome beauty and
tender memories.
Two volunteers, Pauline and Mike Bonanno, flew cross country from
New England to Southern California several times to help with the final
stitching, sandwiching, and quilting together, an enormous task made
lighter by many hands. Mostly local volunteers have been working
together each summer weekend in the Long Beach World Trade Center, Seal
Beach, and Cerritos.
How many quilters do you know of that buy more than 800 yards of
muslin to use for one great quilt in progress? That’s part of what it
takes to make a dream come true.
On Labor Day weekend, the gigantic quilt will be shown publicly for
the first time aboard the Queen Mary at Long Beach, CA. On Friday
night, a ceremony including a children’s choir and guest speakers will
reflect on history, country, and creating this living memorial.
Kim Monins, who made three quilt blocks in memory of three
victims, may be the record-setter for travel distance coming from
Jersey, an island in the English Channel between southern England and
northwest France. She admits the trip will cost her a small fortune,
“but I don’t care. I’m very excited, although I am expecting a vast
range of emotions that weekend.” She will be traveling with another
Britisher, Sheila Booth from London.
Stateside, unpredictable numbers of quilters will be making the
trek from Arizona, Florida, West Virginia and other states. Most
quilters did research as they memorialized and personalized each
name. Some have become acquainted with their victim’s families in the
doing. For many, therapy and healing have become a real result of this
extraordinary quilt. They have made friends, grieved with strangers,
but always united in this common goal.
Some blocks include much information, others less. They range from
traditional patterns of historic interest to primitive drawings, from
appliqué to patriotic influences.
Corey, who early on last September, created an 18’ by 40’ banner
with a very large “U S A, United We Stand” motif and more than 5,000
signatures and messages of hope which he took to New York fire
stations, Ground Zero, and NBC’s “Today” show is inviting the public to
see the quilt on both the East and West Coasts. Quilt viewing times in
Long Beach, California, will be 10 am to 10 pm Friday and Saturday, 10
am to 6 pm Sunday, August 30-Sept. 1.
Each 25-block section has its own travel bag and and the entire
completed quilt will then go to New York City for memorial observances
on September 11, 2002.
| Following will be a national tour with museums the likely hosts. A gallery of pictures may be viewed at www.unitedinmemory.net |  |
To
contact Jean, send an email to jean@fabrics.net
QuiltVisions
writer Jean Spencer began writing at age 11 and continued ever
since. First half of her life was on the East Coast, the
second on the West Coast. She is a joyful quilter,
a merry Christian, a multi-field author, the mother of two daughters
(who continue to teach her new things), cheerleading grandmother
of four, happy wife of a Mr. Fix-It who wears a Quilter's Hero
t-shirt, and plays regularly with two dogs, old Goldie and an
energetic puppy Kobe. Telling stories in quilts,
small groups, church growth, photography, fabric
collecting and music are high on her priority list.
