The Primitive Cornish Hovel: Quilts

Thursday, 11 September 2008

Remembering 9/11

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It’s hard to believe that it’s seven years since that terrible day in September 2001, when the world stood still in shock. Many of us will never forget that day when the unimaginable happened. A country such as the US was attacked and so many people lost their lives and families were changed forever. People from around the world watched in horror as the events unfolded on their television screens, unable to comprehend what was occurring before their eyes. Families in different countries also wanted to know what had happened because it was not only American people who were there that day. People from all corners of the globe worked in those buildings, travelled on the planes and lived in the US. One such person was Rick Rescorla, who was the chief security officer for the financial services firm Morgan Stanley.......

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Rick Riscorla

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I mention Rick Rescorla in particular because he was born in 1939 in Hayle Cornwall, the town where I live. A memorial dedicated to him was unveiled on September 11 2002 at the side of the Harbour on Penpol Terrace, fittingly placed opposite his childhood home......

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Rick was supposed to be on vacation but for various reasons chose to work that day. After having led many of his fellow employees to safety, he returned to the building to rescue others still inside. He was last seen heading up the stairs of the tenth floor of the collapsing World Trade Centre 2. Many people said that during the evacuation he was singing songs to keep up their spirits. One being an adaptation of the song Men of Harlech:

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Men of Cornwall stop your dreaming

Can't you see their spearpoints gleaming

See their warriors' pennants streaming

To this battlefield.

Men of Cornwall stand ye steady

It cannot be ever said yefor the battle were not ready

Stand and never yield!

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I can remember quite clearly where I was when I heard this devastating news. I was sat on the steps in front of the town’s War Memorial, situated outside St. La parish church. I had been inside the church looking at a display of quilts beautifully made by some local ladies. I was waiting for hubby to telephone me to arrange picking me up. The sun was shining and St. Ives was busy due to many holiday makers still being here. I remember that on hearing the news from my husband everything seemed surreal. The sun was still shining, people chatting and laughing as they walked around St. Ives, yet across those many miles the sun was no longer shining.......

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I would like to show you some of the quilts I saw that day. I hope the ladies who made them won’t mind too much me showing them here, thank you.........

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