Following the tragic events on September 11, 2001 and the United States’ initiation of military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, a “memorial mania” broke out in the country. Individuals and groups, including quiltmakers, began creating impromptu as well as carefully planned memorials in response.

One example is the California Fallen Heroes Quilt, shown here in its original version. The makers memorialized each California soldier killed in the wars by embroidering his or her name on the quilt. As the wars continued past 2009 and more Californians were killed, the makers expanded the quilt so that, today, it is twice the original size. Image Courtesy of Don Beld