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Local officials to sign Heart of America quilt

Tampa, FL (Jan. 8, 2006) - Local elected officials with gather in downtown Tampa Friday to sign part of the Heart of America Quilt, a half-acre-sized American flag designed as a memorial to the events of 9/11.

The officials will gather starting at 9 a.m. in the offices of Hillsborough County Tax Collector Doug Belden, who is organizing the signing along with Heart of America Quilt officials. Belden’s office is located on the 14^th floor of the County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., in downtown Tampa.

Officials tentatively scheduled to take part include Belden, Hillsborough County commissioners, Hillsborough County constitutional officers and other elected officials.

 Most will convene at 9 a.m. in Belden’s office. However, some will sign the quilt panel later in the day because of prior commitments, Belden said.

Belden said the quilt began as the brainchild of Susan and Bill Morissette, a Maine couple with four children, all of whom were under 5 on 9/1l. As the parents explained what happened to the children, the oldest child pulled a quilt under his chin and said, “Mommy, I wish everyone could feel like this.”

The quilt was born days later. It now measures 120 feet by 186 feet and features over 10,000 signatures from all 50 states and 14 countries. The signatures are featured on the white stripes of the American flag.

The purpose of the quilt, according to quilt founder Susan Morissette, is “to teach patriotism, create unity, educate on historic and current events and pay tribute to those who have lost their lives in the war on terror.”

Because of its size and weight, only a small portion of the quilt will make the trip to Tampa, Morissette said. The entire quilt is tentatively scheduled to be unfurled this fall during an event on the Washington Mall, she added.

Belden, who now serves on the quilt organization’s advisory board, said the quilt was a great way to memorialize the events of 9/11. “It’s a wonderful idea,” Belden said. “So many memorials - in fact, most of them - are stationary. But this is movable and allows many, many more people to get involved. Susan and Bill (Morissette) have done a tremendous job.”

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