Glendale Teen’s Design Picked to Aid Families of 9/11 Victims

A Glendale boy was one of two Southland students who topped nearly 150 others statewide in a license plate design contest intended to help families of Sept. 11 victims.

The winners, Dashielle Samoy, a 17-year-old senior at Allan F. Daily High School in Glendale, and David Amond, a 17-year-old senior at Mary Star of the Sea High School in San Pedro, were announced by Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson (D-Culver City).

Dashielle won for his American flag motif design, and David won for his slogan, “We Will Never Forget.”

Dashielle, who spent two weeks crafting his design on his computer, said, “I put the flag because it stands for patriotism--for all the people showing the flag today. The clouds represented the people who died.”

The Sept. 11 license plate provision is included in a bill sponsored by Wesson and pending in the state Senate.

If approved, the plates will be available to all registered California drivers for a $50 one-time cost and a $40 annual fee.

The proceeds from sales of the special plates would provide $5,000 scholarships to the surviving spouses and children of the estimated 200 Californians who died in the terrorist attacks.

Money would also help fund anti-terrorism programs in the state Office of Criminal Justice Planning.

“We are affording Californians an opportunity to do something substantive. We’re not soldiers or police officers, but everyone wants to do our part,” Wesson said.

The winning designs were chosen by representatives from government, law enforcement, arts and school organizations.

The Rev. Brenda Lamothe of the First AME Church of Los Angeles came up with the idea for the contest and represented Wesson on the selection committee.

“When people look at it they will remember our brotherhood and the reasons we are the United States. The fact that we had a tragedy pulled us together, and we are united under the flag and God,” Lamothe said.