Showing their appreciation for all the firefighters who gave their lives responding
to the September 11, 2001 emergency 10 years ago, fourteen fellow quilters of the
Covington Quilters Guild combined their talents to produce a beautiful Memorial
quilt as well as Memorial banner that were presented to Kent Fire Department and
Maple Valley Fire & Life Safety on Saturday, July 23.
During the presentation of the quilts, Jenni Gould spoke about how her parent’s
generation never forgot the “horror of Pearl Harbor.” She then reflected on her
and her husband’s reaction to the horror of September 11, 2001 as it unfolded before
their eyes on television.
“We, the Guild, don’t want America and the generations to follow to ever forget
the lives that were lost that day,” said Gould, “or the price that was paid by the
New York firefighters and continues to be paid due to the health consequences of
being there that day. We need to always remember that the freedoms we enjoy here
in America are not free.”
The beautiful Memorial quilt was presented to Covington’s Kent Fire Station 78,
while an equally beautiful Memorial banner was also presented to Maple Valley Fire
& Life Safety. Along with Gould, fellow quilters piecing and stitching the quilt
together were Mary Ann Baker, Jana Colombi, Carol Cowan, Shirley Cutler, Linda Fletcher,
Sandra Fountain, Ada Kirmser, Joanne Lee, Jennie McGraw, Roxie Michel, Gail O’Hern,
Jo Schumacher, and Karen Verner. Working together with Gould on the banner were
Colombi, Lee, and O’Hern.
Rounding off her short presentation speech, Gould said, “We dedicate these to the
men, women and children who lost their lives, the brave people who gave their lives,
and the Heroes who responded to the emergency. We thank you, our firefighters, from
the bottoms of our hearts for your service.”
Pictured: Proudly accepting the new Memorial Banner made by the Covington Quilters
Guild that was presented to Maple Valley Fire & Life Safety were (l-r): Battalion
Chief Dave O’Brien, Public Information Officer Janine Johnson, Lieutenant Scott
Rogers, and Firefighters Greg Gerarden and Brian Shore.
