©

Tillamook County Quilters Guild




Tillamook County Quilters' Remembrance








All photos above © Drunell Levinson. All rights reserved.

All photos below © Tillamook County Quilters Guild. All rights reserved.


When I learned of the devastation of September 11, I couldn't believe it. I turned on the television and told my husband, "We're going to war." He looked at me as though I were crazy. We both watched in horror the replays of the morning's events, tears welling up in our eyes. We were truly in shock.

When I fully realized that it had truly happened, I focused on the Pentagon. I am a native of Washington, D.C., and I felt as though an old friend had been attacked. I tried to call my son, a Marine stationed at Quantico, but I couldn't get through. I tried his cell phone, but no luck. I finally got through via AOL Instant Buddies and learned from my daughter-in-law that they were safe and sound. I was very much relieved. Thank God for on-line chatting!

When I learned of Drunell Levinson's great plan for 9-11 quilts, I asked some fellow quilters in my guild, Tillamook County Quilters, to help me make a panel for her. So the four of us worked together and produced a panel near and dear to our hearts. My sections of the panel are dedicated to the Pentagon and to Fr. Michyal Judge, the Franciscan chaplain of FDNY. He is truly a martyr. May God bless him, and all who perished in that disaster.

Barbara Lauinger          


Barbara Lauinger                                  Diane Colcord

          I was awakened September 11 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific time, with a friend in Reno, Nevada calling to tell me, "Turn on to CNN. The WTC was attacked." I stumbled out of bed, hurried to the TV, turned it on and was stunned to see those pictures. All I could say was, "Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod." And the thought came to mind ... this looks like a movie. Except it was horrifyingly real.

I don't even remember what I was thinking when the buildings collapsed. It was all so surreal. As the news kept coming about the Pentagon, Pennsylvania and New York City, the feeling of frustration became more acute. My family had been attacked. And I was so far away and could do nothing. Of course, I knew no one personally that had been affected. But it was my family – fellow Americans. I read about Rescue Company No. One losing the most men and found an address for that station house. I began mailing cards to them to let them know that this coast was grieving with them, that we cared about them, that we were hurting, too. I told them about all the flags flying everywhere – cars, poles, from cars, in yards, pasted in windows. You still see flags everywhere.

When Barbara Lauinger relayed the email proposing this quilt project, it seemed such a good way to contribute. Something more tangible was being accomplished. It was also a way for me to acknowledge ALL those who were helping in the cleanup – ones I felt were not being thought of as much as others. I cannot imagine the horror of what they were dealing with on a daily basis. I don't think anyone can unless they were in The Pile with those workers.

This way will be a permanent acknowledgment of those who suffered, those who dealt with the cleanup, those whose lives are ruptured and have to be healed. I hope these quilts convey our feelings to those affected, that they know they are truly in our hearts and thoughts. I wish I could give each one a hug.

Diane Colcord          


Charlotte Lessick                                  Barbara Woodhouse



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