FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA -- To memorialize individuals and groups of people, monuments are sometimes built. But not all monuments are made of stone.

A non-profit organization, An American Quilt Inc., was founded after the attacks on America in September 2001. The organization, the inspiration of New York businessman Bill Base, seeks to remember the victims of the attacks by assembling memorial panels of fabric into a quilt.

Since that time, the quilt has grown to include a number of panels commemorating the lives of military members who died during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Quilt contributor Ruth Stonesifer said she was unsure at first whether or not to participate in the project, but began to make a panel after realizing the significant value of her involvement. Stonesifer’s son, Spc. Kristophor Stonesifer of 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment based at Fort Benning, Georgia, was killed in a helicopter crash during an extraction mission in the Afghanistan theater October 19, 2001.

"Since Operation Enduring Freedom is America’s military response to the tragic events, it was a natural progression to include participation (in the project) from families of the fallen soldiers," Stonesifer said.

Along with Stonesifer, other 75th Ranger Regiment family members have donated panels to the project in memory of their loved ones who fought and died in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Keeping Memory Alive

"When I heard about the project I thought it was a great idea," said Anne Edmunds, wife of Spc. Jonn Joseph Edmunds, who was killed with Stonesifer.

"I was glad to see that (the organization) wanted to remember the military lives lost as a result of September 11 along with the victims of that day," Edmunds said.

"(Making the quilt) means that his memory is still alive," said Patricia Marek, speaking about her son, Cpl. Matthew A. Commons, a ranger with 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, who died March 3 during combat in Afghanistan.

Marek said she made the panel to memorialize her son and to show him how proud she is of him.

Bace said the inspiration to start the project for families came from wanting to do something to help, but began to form after he read about the history of the U.S. flag and how Betsy Ross was commissioned by America’s first president, George Washington, to create a symbol of the new American spirit.

After finding out that Ross’s flag was stitched together like a quilt, Bace said he started thinking about the AIDS quilt created by the Names Project and decided to start a similar quilt to memorialize the lives of the victims and heroes of 9/11.

Just like other families who have made the 6 foot by 3 foot quilt panels, Stonesifer personalized her panel by taking pieces of items and pictures that remind her of her son’s life and sewed them together.

"I chose to include a portrait, Stonesifer said. "I selected journal quotes that Kris wrote on his views about life. While making the quilt, I envisioned it as my own personal tribute. The panel reflects (Kristophor’s) quiet, thoughtful personality."

She also included a portion of one of the first quilts she ever made for Kristophor.

‘A Perfect Project’

"The last task of the panel was to sew a meandering quilting design to hold it together," said Stonesifer. "The stitches are mostly random except for written in the thread is the names of his closest friends and his ranger buddies."

Edmunds said that she and her aunt took special care in creating just the right panel.

"A lot of love went into each stitch of the panels," said Edmunds. "I have always enjoyed making things for Jonn and our home, so this was a perfect project for me." "My aunt and I worked very hard on (the panel)," said Edmunds. "I was very particular about the photos I chose. I wanted Jonn to be proud of the quilt because I am so proud of him."

When Stonesifer first saw the pieces of the quilt put together she said it was interesting to see how differently families chose to capture their loved one’s spirit.

"An American Quilt was displayed July 13 at the Naumberg Band Shell in Central Park, New York City," said Stonesifer. "Everyone took great care as they walked around the panels, pausing to read the shared love letters, looking at the family photos and reflecting on the lives lost."

Stonesifer said healing came for her when she saw the emotion of the people who came to view the quilt.

"I saw one young man kneeling in front of the panel contributed by the (3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment)," continued Stonesifer. "He was reading and (contemplating) the Ranger Creed for 15 minutes. As he got up and walked away, this young man’s visible tears touched my spirit."

"I thought it was very thoughtful of the project organizers to put the five ranger panels together with an American Flag and the panels that 3rd and 1st Battalion made," said Edmunds. "It made it a group effort for the rangers and the ranger families, and we are definitely used to that."

According to Bace, An American Quilt Inc. hopes more families and friends of the victims in the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, flights 11, 93, 77, 175, and military casualties in Operation Enduring Freedom will contribute panels in memory of loved ones for future displays.

Bace said he intended for the quilt to travel across America and around the globe for the next two to three years, after which it will be donated to an appropriate public institution for preservation and continued viewing.

"We are hoping that the quilt will be ... housed in a memorial that will be in the new buildings that are to be built at Ground Zero," said Bace. "Otherwise, the quilt will be given to an institution such as the Museum of the City of New York or the Smithsonian Institution."

For further information on the ongoing project or to learn how to add your loved one’s memorial panel to the quilt, contact Bill Bace at (212) 448-0109 or visit the project’s Web site at http://www.anamericanquilt.com

SOURCE: Army News Service via Veterans News and Information Service. Pfc. Jennifer J. Eidson is a staff member at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs Office