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Lending a hand to New York

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Lolita Harper

When TeWinkle Middle School teacher Michael Jekogian was jolted awake

on the morning of Sept. 11 by the horrific images of the terrorist

attacks on television, he experienced the same thought as the rest of the

country -- how can I help?

Jekogian, a special education teacher at the Costa Mesa school, soon

met with Principal Jeff Gall, and they came up with the idea of making a

quilt to send to New York firefighters.

Creating the quilt quickly became a communal effort as parents,

teachers and students pitched in. One quilt mushroomed into two --

symbolizing the World Trade Center towers.

The quilts are made up of more than 150 hand images -- in honor of the

theme “Lend a Hand” -- and pays tribute to the firefighters, police

officers and transit authority workers who sacrificed their lives to save

others.

The quilts will be sent to New York City this week.

“It’s become a larger task than I envisioned,” Jekogian said. “This is

something the kids will take into history, considering the amplitude of

the event.”

Students in all grades started working on the quilt in October.

Parents, teachers and students donated bolts of fabric.

When the squares were complete, Jekogian enlisted the help of Orange

Coast College student Khianna Barwick, who sewed the squares together.

Then came the arduous and emotional task of finding the names of all

the people who rushed into the burning buildings to rescue victims and

never made it out -- more than 300 altogether, Jekogian said.

All the names were alphabetized and printed onto iron transfers so

they could be incorporated into the quilt. Also emblazoned on the two

quilts is the motto luctor et emerco -- or struggle and emerge.

On Tuesday, a group of students put the finishing touches on the

quilts, ironing on words of dedication. Jekogian also encouraged a few of

the boys to “get involved” in the ironing process.

Sixth-grader Amber Thomas, 12, designed her hand in blue with a cloud

pattern.

“I really thought of all the people who went up to heaven,” Amber

said. “It made me feel good, like I did something special.”

Sixth-grader Madilynn Santoyo, 11, designed a blue hand on a pattern

with hearts with little flags inside of them.

“It made me remember how much everyone loves America,’ Madilynn said.

Gall said the students’ efforts symbolized the positive character

traits the school tries to instill.

“It was a positive opportunity to show our respect and thanks for the

rescue workers who gave of themselves and helped rescue other people,”

Gall said.

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .

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