Freedom Quilts
The Susquehanna County Historical Society hosted the "Freedom Quilts" exhibit from October 18through November 30, 2002. The "Freedom Quilts" project surfaced after the September 11thtragedy. "Out of the disbelief and pain, I felt I needed to do something", said Maria RocioO'Brien, of Montrose, the project originator. "I wanted to capture a message that would make astatement for the future. I want our children to know peace without fear."    Rocio has quilting friends around the world and asked them if they would like to provide 10"quilted blocks with a message of freedom, peace and harmony. Rocio's friend, Marty Kishirofrom Intec, Japan, posted a message on his website. A month later he received blocks fromJapanese quilters, and in October of 2001 the blocks were sent to Rocio. The blocks containedmessages of love, sorrow, and most of all, support. Rocio, Stephanie Stopka, CatherineProbasco, Eileen Sickler, Annette Kennedy, Sheila Weidner, Ada Hess, and Marie McAvoy completedeight quilts in a few months' time.   Rocio feels the quilts symbolize a hope for a better tomorrow and are a reminder of how wetriumphed over life's adversities. "As I view these beautiful quilts and I read their inspiringmessages it comforts me. It tells me that good does triumph over evil." |