Lending a hand to New York
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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