Kids Stitch Together a Salute

A small quilt made by third-graders at a Northridge elementary school is a source of comfort to many, including Los Angeles area firefighters.

The quilt--created by Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet School students to honor New York City firefighters--hangs in the office of Los Angeles Fire Chief William Bamattre. It will be displayed at the Fire Department’s museum in Hollywood before being presented to a New York firehouse where 18 members of a single squad died in the Sept. 11 collapse of the World Trade Center towers.

“We are so impressed with the efforts of these kids,” said Fire Capt. Steve Ruda, who visited the students and accepted the quilt. “It just reinforced in me that everybody, no matter what their ages, can contribute something.”

The four-foot-square quilt is made of 20 panels, each of which was designed by a student in Angela Bronson’s third-grade class. The youngsters wanted to do something “different and special” in tribute to the firefighters, Bronson said.

“I wanted to let them know that we appreciate what they have done,” said 8-year-old Josie Cantabrana.

Owen Cole, 9, said the attacks made him feel “sad and mad . . . because all those people in the World Trade Center died.”

“They could have had longer lives and funner lives,” he said.

Along with the quilt, Bronson is sending a photo and letter from each child to the New York firefighters.

“We made this quilt,” wrote Matthew Jacobson, 8, in his letter, “because we wanted to give it to you. A different reason is that we care about you. Another reason is that we know it was really scary and when the World Trade Center buildings fell down it took a lot of bravery.”

Last month, Ruda traveled to New York to present $2.2 million collected to assist the families of firefighters. The money represents contributions large and small, ranging from thousands of dollars collected through organized fund-raisers to $4.30 from kids who set up a lemonade stand, Ruda said.

In the flood of contributions, gifts and good wishes for New York firefighters, those from children have been especially moving, Ruda said.

“Children are the ones who have touched the hearts of firefighters the most,” he said.