It was a most fitting and appropriate kickoff to the fifth
anniversary weekend of the tragedy’s of 9/11. St. John’s
University’s Staten Island campus was the setting for more than 300
family members their guests and a host of New York State
legislators who gathered for a premiere viewing of the United in
Memory 9/11 Victims Memorial Quilt on September 8.
New York State’s Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton attended the
private VIP reception that evening and was overtaken with emotion.
“When you look at the quilt you cannot doubt that you are in the
presence of God,” she stated.
The weekend of festivities partnered the United in Memory
Foundation (organizers of the quilt from Long Beach, CA) and
three Staten Island organizations, Where-To-Turn, the Joseph
Maffeo Foundation, Inc. and Washington Mutual Insurance
Corporation.
Corey Gammel, CEO and founder of United in Memory was so
compelled by the events of 9/11 that he felt the need to do
something to commemorate those lost on that fateful day. Thus, the
idea of the United in Memory 9/11 Victims Memorial Quilt Exhibit
was born. The quilt measures 16,000 square feet in length and was
made by more than 3,000 volunteers from 17 countries who all
participated in making memorial blocks for the victims. Each victim
killed in the 9/11 tragedy has their own personalized memorial
block dedicated to them.
The exhibit was heavily attended throughout the weekend with an
estimated crowd of more than 1,000 viewing the quilt during the
four-day event (September 8-11) at St. John’s University’s Staten
Island Campus Gymnasium.
“St. John’s University was extremely honored to be able to host
the United in Memory 9/11 Victims Memorial Quilt Exhibit for the
fifth anniversary commemoration,” said Joseph
Sciame, Vice
President for Community Relations. “To meet some of the
families of the victims from Staten Island, a community that
suffered great loss, was a memorable experience and one we will
never forget.”
For more information contact Dominic Scianna, Director of Media
Relations, St. John’s University at 718-990-6185 or email inquiries
to sciannad@stjohns.edu.
For information about the United in Memory 9/11 Victims Memorial
Quilt contact Corey Gammel, CEO and project founder at 562-607-8263
or email requests to get2corey@charter.net.
For tour information and schedules, or to donate online please
visit the organization’s web site at www.unitedinmemory.net.