Artists remember 9/11 in their own way

The winners of the third annual Remembering 9/11 Art Competition were announced at a reception for artists and guests at Brandon Gallery Sept. 9. Area artists were invited to create a patriotic themed work of art, honoring the military, veterans, first responders and the United States of America.

Twenty-six artists and photographers responded, some bringing their art to Fallbrook from as far away as Cardiff, Lake Elsinore, Escondido and Oceanside besides Valley Center and Temecula. Their entry fees benefited the Harrington Family of the Fallbrook Firefighters Association.

The winners were voted on by visitors to the gallery from Sept. 4 up until the close of voting on Sept. 9. Close to 80 people attended the reception, including the creator of the event, Phyllis Sweeney, the Encouragement Factor; she wanted to ensure that future generations would “Never Forget” what happened on September 11, 2001.

The major sponsor of the event is Fallbrook Propane Gas Company. Additional sponsors that contributed to the Harrington Family are Coldwell Banker-Village Properties, 100 Main, The Jewelry Connection and Murphy & Murphy Southern California Realtors.

Besides the presentation of awards, there were two special speakers at the reception. Linda Stewart, widow of Stephen Stewart who was at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, shared her husband's “Reflections” of that day. A certified piece of the Pentagon that belongs to Stewart is on display at the gallery until Sept. 28.

The other guest speaker was Jerry Bedoya, a retired Los Angeles Fire Captain, who shared his experiences of the aftermath of 9/11. He was one of a dozen firefighters dispatched by his department to Manhattan following the attacks. He and his teammates were assigned to relieve exhausted FDNY firefighters on the debris pile. Captain Bedoya and his coworkers were tasked with the recovery efforts throughout their seven-day ordeal.

All of the entries in the Remembering 9/11 Art Competition can be seen on display at Brandon Gallery through Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Tuesday – Saturday), 105 North Main Avenue.

Remembering 9/11 Art Competition Winners

Submitted by Anita Kimzey, event coordinator

SPONSOR AWARD

Love you Daddy, “Good-bye”

Dunya Shaw, Fallbrook

2-DIMENSIONAL CATEGORY

1st Place

“The Ascension”

Cathy Coffey, Fallbrook

2nd Place

“Sea to Shining Sea”

Roy Blackford, Carlsbad

3rd Place

“In Memory of Those Who Died

Gayle Bamber, Fallbrook

PJSweeney Encouragement Factor Merit Award

“Remembering the First Responders”

Keri Richmond, Fallbrook

Chamber of Commerce Merit Award

“American Heroes”

Ginny English, Cardiff

PHOTOGRAPHY CATEGORY

1st Place

“Courage Under Fire”

John Tobin, Murrieta

2nd Place

“In His Hands”

Lori Beach, Temecula

3rd Place

“Life Goes On: Resilient America Five Months Later

Kimberly Zajac, Temecula

PJSweeney Encouragement Factor Merit Award

“Never Forget!”

Bill Pratt, Fallbrook

Chamber of Commerce Merit Award

“Defend Our Freedon”

Al Valpy, Lake Elsinore