My object is a vibrant, joy-inspiring quilt. And while it might seem simple this gift meant the world. My great, great grandmother immigrated from Poland in the mid to late 1800s. She brought very few things. The most important being her quilts. She loved them dearly and would do anything to keep them. Before she died she passed her quilts down to my grandmother. My grandmother cherishes these blankets. She thinks of them as her lasting connection to her grandmother. They represent our family’s heritage and immigration to America. For her and my grandfather’s 50th anniversary, everyone who is close to them hand sewed a patch with a reason why they love them and we got them all together and made a large quilt.  My patch was chocolate ice cream and a light bulb because every time I see my grandmother she offers me ice cream and tells me I light up her world. These truly touched my grandmother’s heart and helped her deal with the everlasting pain of her grandmother’s death. This quilt hangs in my grandmother’s house, it is authoritative and kind. It shows the love in my family and how the younger generations interpret older stories and gifts from immigration.

– Lucy Rose Berman

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more