MONROE: McGreevey unveils quilt and speaks about tragedy
By:Nick D’Amore
MONROE Brookside School staff and students rolled out the red carpet and unfurled their Hearts of America quilt for Gov. James E. McGreevey on Monday.
Gov. McGreevey was on hand to dedicate the school’s Hearts of America quilt, coordinated by art teacher Karen Verderami.
The quilt was made by students as a response and remembrance to those lost on Sept. 11 and honors the name of 430 individuals, many family and friends of students and staff of the school.
Students were excited in the minutes leading up to Gov. McGreevey’s arrival. The gym echoed with excited whispering and shushing.
With local press photographers poised for their shots down the middle aisle of the gym, Gov. McGreevey walked in on crutches as the Brookside fifth- and sixth-grade honors band played the "Star-Spangled Banner."
Principal Dennis Ventrello opened the ceremony of "mixed blessings and emotions."
Following a performance of "America, the Beautiful" by the band, the quilt was dedicated by students and Ms. Verderami.
"We are all here today to triumph over tragedy. Because of our humanity, we are all the stuff that dreams are made of, the right stuff," she said.
Ms. Verderami said the quilt was an expression of gratitude to all the heroes of Sept. 11 for their "bravery beyond measure."
"Those that were lost are gone, but not forgotten. No man is an island, think of Manhattan," she said.
Gov. McGreevey then took the stage at the back of the Brookside gym and greeted the students and staff in attendance.
"Let’s hear it for Brookside," he said. The request was answered by a chorus of cheers that echoed throughout the gym.
Gov. McGreevey asked students what this country is about what it means to be an American and about the principles the country was founded on.
When one student answered, "freedom," Gov. McGreevey had the answer he was looking for and kept asking for it.
"We wanted what?" he asked the Brookside student body three times, each time answered with the booming response of "freedom."
"There are those who don’t respect freedom," he told the students. "We’re at war because we have to defend the notion of freedom. The principle of freedom was attacked on Sept. 11."
The governor also stressed to the students that the United States is unlike any other country in the world.
"My grandparents came to America from Ireland and now I’m the governor of New Jersey. This can only happen in American," he said.
He then began another call-and-response session, by asking the kids first, "Who’s state is this?"
"Ours," the children roared back.
"Who’s country is this?"
"Ours!"
"You are New Jersey’s future. If we want a strong nation and a strong state, you have to be strong," Gov. McGreevey told the students.
He told the Brookside community that he would be displaying its quilt in the New Jersey State Library in Trenton.
He then made a request of the students to turn off their televisions and pick up books, which they excitedly accepted.
"I expect great things from Brookside," he said.
Gov. McGreevey then asked the students to raise their right hands and pledge to "always do the right thing."
The governor fielded questions from the students about his job and his duties. He also took a request from one girl to visit her mother who works in the state Department of Transportation office in Trenton.
As he was leaving the school, Gov. McGreevey asked them again what principle the country was founded on.
"Freedom!"
And what they were going to do instead of watch television?
"Read!"
"This is the best part of being governor," he said.