Lafayette Marks 9/11 with Booklet on Memorial Peace and Unity Quilt “One World, One People” captures campus community’s sorrow and hopefulness following terrorist attacks. Lafayette is marking the third anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States with the publication of One World, One People: Lafayette College Remembers 9/11, a booklet that features images of a memorial quilt created in the aftermath of the attacks.

Jen Gentile '03 (L-R), Farahleena Laiwalla '04, and Morgan Albus '03 participate in a ceremony formally retiring the memorial quilt Sept. 11, 2002.

The thoughts and prayers of the Lafayette community are once again focused in particular on the families of four members of the College family who died in the World Trade Center, Neil D. Levin ’76; Eric R. Thorpe ’89; Jeffrey LeVeen, father of Elizabeth Ann LeVeen ’98; and William H. Pohlmann, father of Craig J. Pohlmann ’96.

To make the quilt, Lafayette students, faculty, and staff and local elementary-school students contributed nearly 300 12-inch squares cut from bed sheets and decorated in a variety of ways.

Formally unveiled Nov. 15, 2001, the quilt remained on display in Farinon College Center’s Landis Atrium until it was lowered from the rafters and retired Sept. 11, 2002, in a ceremony during Lafayette’s commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the attacks.

Ibrahima Bah '06 contributes to the memorial ribbon garden.

A sampling of the campus community's remembrances and prayers shared in a memorial ribbon garden during Lafayette's commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Help repair the world and make a difference. Let love prevail. Smile more because life is precious. Strength of heart, Strength of soul, Strength of mind. Lord, help us to find Peace-Today, Tomorrow, Forever Our greatest heroes will never be forgotten. United we will remain standing. We will never forget September 11th, but let us live each day with love, happiness, and laughter. God Bless America and the world. May God be with all the families touched by this tragedy and with our country’s leaders, that they may be led by peace and justice. Amen.

The booklet also features remembrances and prayers written by members of the campus community on memorial ribbons and displayed during the one-year commemoration.

The price of the booklet is $3.00, and it will be available for purchase in the Landis Atrium this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 11-12, during the annual Family Weekend. After that it will be available in the Lafayette College Store in Farinon’s lower level.

The booklet’s “words and images chronicle a variety of responses to what happened on September 11, 2001, and reflect the struggle that so many have made to transcend their initial reactions of horror and grief,” writes Lafayette President Arthur J. Rothkopf ’55 in a foreword.

“These expressions of anguish, compassion, and strength convey both the sorrow and the hopefulness of the campus community during a time that none of us who were here throughout that period will ever forget. It is a tribute to the optimism and resilience of the Lafayette community that this booklet offers so many reasons to embrace – and celebrate – 'One World, One People.'”

The quilt project was led by Geoffrey Gresh of Lowell, Mass., who graduated in 2002 with majors in history and French.

"I thought of the idea in the wake of the tragic events on September 11 and I wanted to do something in honor of this tragedy," Gresh said at the time. "The goal is to . . . make a huge, gigantic, beautiful quilt for all of the campus to see. I feel this quilt will be a wonderful way to further show the solidarity of our campus. In addition, this artistic outlet is another great way to express oneself and speak out against these atrocious acts."

Key sponsors of the quilt project were the student resident advisers and the Office of Residence Life. Other student organizations and administrative offices involved were Student Government, Lafayette Activities Forum, International Students Association, Lafayette Intercultural Networking Council, and Landis Community Outreach Center.

The booklet was edited by Pamela E. Brewer, associate dean of students and director of student life programs, and Diane Windham Shaw, special collections librarian and College archivist. The art director and designer is Lew Minter, director of the art department’s media laboratory. Rosina Bosco ’06, an art major from Millburn, N.J., was design assistant. The booklet features photographs by Romy Mariano ’04 and others.

The booklet is available for download in pdf format.
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Click on the tumbnails of the quilt patches to see a larger view