Americans United Flag Across America: Oklahoma Diary: Bobbi Lombard

Oklahoma Home Oklahoma Diary: Bobbi Lombard

First, I would like to say Susan, you have done an awesome job of organizing our state for this run! When Susan told me three weeks ago that she was going to be the state coordinator for this run I thought for one brief moment that she had lost her mind, but, knowing Susan the way I do, I knew it would happen. It has been such a joy tohear the daily reports and listen to the stories of how the people of our state have joined together for this project. Way to go Oklahoma!

Here is my story. I teach a creative expression class for early childhood education majors at Oklahoma State University. A portion of this class deals with providing opportunities for art experiences to young children. Barbara Sorrels (she teaches another section of the same class) and I had discussed having our students make a quilt throughout the semester that we would send to New York. We were actually thinking that we would work on this project a little bit each week and then send it in December. Susan came to us and said that it would be really neat if we could have the quilt ready to present when the flag run came through OKC on October 29. We said that we would try.

I went to Hobby Lobby in Stillwater and asked if this store might donate some of the material we would need for the project. He told me to go get whatever I needed!!!! After choosing the fabric and thread I was so excited that I left forgetting the quilt batting and a few other items that we would need. The local Wal-Mart provided these things for us. I would like to thank both stores for their help.

We explained to our students about the run, that we needed to do in a short time, and to come to the next class with some ideas about making their squares. It was determined that the quilt needed a theme.

The students chose HOPE because they wanted to convey that after a tragedy, there is still hope for a bright future. The students especially wanted the children affected by this tragedy to know this. Our students have experienced their own tragedies here in Oklahoma. Many of them recalled their own fears when the Murrah building bombing occured. Some spoke of the May 5th tornado that hit the Oklahoma City area a few years ago. They spoke of the 10 people who were lost in the OSU athletic plane crash last spring. Many of these students were directly affected by these events. Through all of their discussions, the one thing that seemed to keep returning to the conversation was 'there is hope' for a brighter future because good can and will come from a tragic event.

Once the theme of HOPE was decided, they began working on their squares. Since the students wanted children to know that there was hope for the future, it was decided that some of the children in the OSU Child Development Lab School should help. Ten or twelve of the squares were made by these children. Each square is unique and different, yet there is a thread of hope, faith, love, and patriotism throughout.

Another topic of conversation while working on the quilt was how it made them feel better to do something tangible to help others feel better. There was a feeling of if I can't be there to physically help, I can at least do something that make others feel better when they see it. There was quite a bit of excitement that they were working on a project that would hopefully, ultimately, end up in New York.

After the squares were completed, a grandmother of one of the students sewed the blocks together. Once that was done, Girl Scout Troop #341 put the top, batting, and back together and then tied the corners of each square. They finished it in one afternoon and evening! Barbara and her mother put the binding on the quilt. In order to get this portion finished, I drove from Stillwater to Manford, to meet Barbara so she could take it back to Tulsa to finish it. As you can see, this was truly a group project with many different people involved. It should serve as an example of unity.

We were quite honored to be able to participate in the ceremony in Oklahoma City. It was a very touching and heartwarming to see so many people attend to show their support for the runners, the flag, the United States of America, and for all those who were affected by the events of September 11. From when the flag was first spotted until it came to rest in the area by the survivor tree, the cheering, applaues, and singing of God Bless America brought tears to my eyes. It was difficult to say the pledge and sing the Star Spangled Banner because of the emotion that I was feeling. I'm confident that I was not alone. Rana McCoy and the Center Stage Singers of Stillwater did a wonderful job. (Of course being from Stillwater, knowing Rana, and the fact that my daughter was one of the young ladies who sang might influence my feelings a bit.) Really, it was all very touching, from the pledge, to the songs, to the blessing and prayer, to seeing the flag passed on and off to its next destination.