Never Forget September 11, 2001
 
 
Shortly after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, I joined the volunteer project of United We Quilt. This important project paired volunteer quilters with individuals and families who had lost loved ones as a result of the attacks. Late in July of 2002, I was paired with Lisabeta Dedvukaj whose brother, Simon, had been killed in the WTC attacks. Over the past year, I've worked closely with Lisa and her family to create a memory quilt featuring photographs of Simon throughout his life, as well as personal poems,drawings and diary entries from his surviving family members.

Simon Dedvukaj, 26, was a foreman for a maintenance company which worked in WTC Tower 1. He was a loving, caring man who was thoroughly dedicated to his family and to preserving his Albanian-American heritage. Since a young child, he had taken a great interest in the history and culture of his parents and grandparents, and imparted that knowledge to his 3 brothers and 4 sisters. From all that I've learned about him, Simon was truly a selfless man who gave and gave in both wisdom and material generosity. On October 7, 2000, Simon married Elizabeta, a woman he met and fell in love with on a trip to Albania. The couple were just short of celebrating their first wedding anniversary when Simon left for work at the World Trade Center that infamous day.

On July 12, 2003, I presented the Dedvukaj family with this memory quilt in honor of Simon. I can honestly say that the experience of working on this project has been the most rewarding thing I have done so far in my life. I feel very privileged to have become friends with Simon's parents, brothers and sisters, and to be able to give them this one of a kind tribute to this special man.

For more information on this project, please visit www.unitedwequilt.org

 

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Members of the Dedvukaj family - Click to enlarge
 
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