Hearts and Hands Across the Potomac

Letter received by Beth Hayes, Editor McCall's Quilting: Dear Ms. Hayes,      I just thought you'd like to see a picture of a quilt made by the women of the Department of Transportation in memory of the women who died at the Pentagon and on Flight 77 on September 11. Some of the design elements of our quilt came from your February 2002 issue of McCall's Quilting. The idea for the top border came from Robert Callaham's Pine Tree Junction and the idea for the gold stars came from Lisa Christensen's God Bless America.      Women from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics have led a Department of Transportation wide effort to make a memorial quilt for the 74 women killed on September 11 in the Pentagon and on American Airlines Flight 77 that crashed into the building.      The quilt is intended to express heartfelt sympathy to the victims and their families. For the quilters, making a quilt block has provided a kind of therapy that "helps sustain the American spirit"—the theme of this year's National Women's History Month that instigated the quilt project.      The result is a quilt we call "Hearts and Hands Across the Potomac," a 106 inch by 126 inch quilt that will be presented by the Secretary of Transportation, the Honorable Norman Mineta, to the Department of Defense (Pentagon) on August 27 where it will then hang permanently.      Stacy Murphy and Kim Webb organized the DOT quilt project. Women from every agency within the Department of Transportation participated in making the 9 by 9 inch squares. The squares were sewn together by Kim Hill, Thea Graham, Peg Young and Susan Lapham. The machine quilting was done in a stars and loops pattern by Susan Lapham. It has a flag in the middle and a gold star containing the name of every woman who died at the Pentagon and on Flight 77. Sincerely, Susan Susan J. Lapham Associate Director for Statistical Programs Bureau of Transportation Statistics US Department of Transportation

Quilts for Sydney

Rhonda Panas, from Sydney, Australia, submitted the following: "When the bush fires of January destroyed our beautiful country, about 160 families were displaced. These families lost everything—all their personal possessions—the clothes they were wearing were all they had left of their past life. I asked a group of five women that do crafts with me once a month, how they felt about making each family a comfort quilt to help rebuild their lives. The project has blown out to 12 women now and we meet every Tuesday night to sew, putting squares and fabric sent to us from all around the world together. So far we have made 30 quilt tops and we are on target to have them all finished by the end of this year. It's a mammoth task, but the donations of squares and fabric pieces have been donated from all around the world—I posted request on many of the message boards and women from all over have sent wonderful "stuff" for us to use. We are now moving into a Church Hall because it's grown out of the house and I have no where big enough to spread our work." Kudos to the Rhonda, her crafts group, and her helping friends from all around the world! A tremendous amount of work and concern given to those who have lost so much. If you would like to contact Rhonda, send e-mail to rhondajoy@ozemail.com.au

Please e-mail a brief description of your group's project so we can share it with other quilters and, perhaps, inspire more good deeds, as well as to say thank you. If you have photos please send them, along with your description, to Webmaster - McCall's Quilting, Primedia Enthusiast Group, 741 Corporate Circle, Suite A, Golden, CO 80401 If you would like photos returned please enclose a SASE.