2009 News
February 12, 2009
Award-Winning Quilt on Display in Courthouse Rotunda
Third-Floor Exhibit Honors Bucks County Fallen War Heroes
Inspired by an August 20, 2008 visit to the Bucks County Courthouse courtyard “Hometown Heroes” banner exhibit, Chalfont resident Ellen Johnson set to work putting her personal touch on that emotionally moving experience.
The result, a five-foot-by-five-foot, multi-color quilt, is a memorable creative endeavor entitled, “Our Bleeding Heart and Prayer for Peace.” Last November, it received the “Best Interpretation of Theme” award in the County Line Quilters Guild 2008 Challenge. After Mrs. Johnson showcased her work for Bucks County Commissioners Charley Martin, chairman, Jim Cawley and Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia during their business meeting of Feb. 4, 2009, she agreed to share it with visitors to the Bucks County Courthouse.
The quilt will be on display through the end of February in the third-floor rotunda, just beneath the catwalk. Members of the public are invited to enjoy Mrs. Johnson’s creative talent, which is a tribute to the 192 Bucks County service members who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in wars since World War II.
Mrs. Johnson and thread artist Ruth Stonesifer amplified on their patriotic them by including:
- eight embellished white stars for U.S. involvement in wars since World War II;
- seven small red, white and blue stars for years since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks;
- two large stars for the son of a special friend (Ruth’s son, Kristofor Stonesifer) and Mrs. Johnson’s cousin, Michael Washington, who was killed in action on June 14, 2008;
- 17 red, gold and blue stars for the 17 service members memorialized with flags in the Bucks County Courthouse courtyard (12 Army, four Marines, one Army Airborne Ranger);
- 35 small gold stars for every five Bucks County servicepersons lost in the Korean and Vietnamese wars;
- and one peace dove, which was drawn by Yvonne Huppertz of Chalfont.