A presentation and a Thank you

Sharon,Martha,Ladies of the ALP 187,
   Ladies I want to thank you for the Greatest presentation a warrior
could ever have. I am thrilled with the luncheon it  was fabulous. The
pictures are very good but they dont show  the hard work and dedication
you ladies demonstrate with quilting and showing the appreciation of
the American Warrior. My wife Belinda was overcome by the warmth of
your kindness.
  Tuesday April  17  2012 was only  a few days away from history. April
19, 2012 was the 237th anniversary of the first shots fired in the
American Revolution on that day, Issac Davis, a  Minuteman from Concord,
Massachusetts took to arms and hastily went into battle against
government/British troops.  His body  was returned home that evening to
his family.
  I am blessed to have followed in in heros footsteps and returned home to
be able to have a presentation of  this nature. I will use  this blanket
and always remember what it stands for.
Thank you ladies, members of  the QOVF for the blanket It is beautiful and
warms not only my body, but  my soul as well.


                                                                              Thank You

                                                                               William Faulkner
                                                                               Belinda Faulkner

PBS QOV Documentary

"Quilts of Valor" documentary available  


"Quilts of Valor," a 73-minute documentary starring national quilters Eleanor Burns, Alex Anderson, and Mark Lipinski and hosted by Marianne Fons, has just been made available to all public television stations nationwide by its producer, Iowa Public Television. To make sure this unique and compelling program is aired on your local station, contact your station's programming department and ask it to schedule the show.



For help in finding your local station, go to  http://www.pbs.org. Contact your station via email, phone message, or personal note to let them know you want to watch "Quilts of Valor."  It will be available May 22, 2012.

From Pennsylvania to Florida: A Unique QOV Presentation

It was another day working in my sewing room on another Quilt of Valor when the phone rings:   "Hello".  "Mrs. S? This is Hugo G.  calling   to Thank you for your recent donation to the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes."  He is enthusiastic and friendly and we begin   to chat and I learn that he has been in Iraq and served in the Army and is now legally blind from an injury incurred   there.  The Coalition helped him and his wife meet some bills while he is rehabbing and adjusting to a new way of living with impaired sight.
 
As we were chatting about his time 'in country' the most poignant thing he said to me was how they were friendly with the Iraqi people, but you could never be sure that “'the hand that squeezed your hand during the day would not be the hand that squeezed the trigger in the night".  This really brought home to me the stress of living in a war zone.
 
Finally, I remembered our QOV mission and asked him if he had received a Quilt of Valor.  He said 'no' and I briefly explained what they were and their mission.  He seemed to understand and appreciate how important they were right off the bat.  He said that if he were to receive one he would treasure it for the rest of his life. So I assured him we would see that he received one either by me mailing one or someone near him would  bring him one.  He gave me his contact information and I reluctantly hung up from our chat.


  Next up:  get on the internet and reach out to our community to see if I could find someone in his area who would present a Quilt of Valor , the BEST way, of course.  Almost immediately, Jeff Thorne, Alycia  Carmin , Susan Gordon and Lori Kutch all responded with possible contacts.  I'm not sure which lead put me in touch with the ladies who actually made the presentation , Stormy and Kathy, but suffice it to say, that one way or another, QOV's will be presented.

When I spoke with Kathy, she was happy to get in touch with Hugo and work out the details of the presentation.  She even had a quilt ready to go, which saved me the shipping charges of sending to Florida from Pennsylvania.  So now I will pass the story on to Kathy:

PRESENTATION CEREMONY

  After receiving Hugo's contact information from Jo, I discussed this presentation with Stormy Schevis, who was my QOV co-chair last year in the Gold Coast Quilters Guild (Boca Raton, Florida). She was as excited as I was about meeting this veteran and presenting a quilt to him. With all of our busy schedules, it took a few weeks to coordinate a date that worked for all of us.
 

On Tuesday, March 13, Stormy and I met at Hugo's house, and together we met him, his wife, and their three beautiful daughters. We spent a few minutes getting acquainted, and then as Stormy and I made the presentation, Hugo translated word for word to his wife. It was a touching moment for all when Hugo accepted his quilt and thanked us. We then took photos of the family together, admiring their quilt. Hugo made it clear that he understood our mission, and the purpose of the quilt, when he said, "Just as it was a sacrifice for me to be deployed, it was also a sacrifice for my family. This quilt will help all of us in healing."

 
This was such a rewarding experience for me and Stormy. We are grateful to have been given the opportunity to present a QOV. Making a quilt is rewarding, but to present one to a veteran was so special.

 Submission by:   Jo Stauffer, Pennsylvania  and   Kathy  Cochrane, Florida

WWII Veteran Honered

On Palm Sunday the Monday Morning Quilters presented this quilt to WWII
Veteran  Tom H., with his family in attendance.  Tom was a fighter
pilot serving in Italy during most of the war.  He has been, and is, an
inspiration to our town.  The quilt was made by Amy N.s, and her
husband Wilbur who is helping hold the quilt, recognized the planes and
some of the craft that Tom had flown.  It was his idea to make the
presentation.  Joline F. of the Monday Morning Quilters is also
pictured.

Submitted by Joline F

Oregon's Navy Veterans Recognized

Three Navy veterans in Oregon have received their Quilts of Valor. Two of these men, in their 90's now, have waited a long time for their recognition.

Judy M. first found and awarded Howard L. with his quilt. Mr. L., born in 1918, served on the USS Helena at Pearl Harbor and seven more Pacific battles. Last year he was honored to act as the Grand Marshall for Springfield, Oregon's 4th of July events.

Howard's sister told  us he was so proud of his quilt he asked caregivers at his retirement center to hang it on the wall for all to enjoy.

Today Jack H., another Navy WWII Veteran who was also at Pearl Harbor, received his Quilt of Valor, presented by Linda K and Sandy N. Mr. H served in 14 battles on two destroyers, the USS Ralph Talbot and the USS Henderson. He asked that his quilt be laid across a chair just below his group of medals displayed in a frame hanging on his living area wall. Besides proudly telling about his Navy service, he's equally proud to be a life-long Oregonian.

While waiting in the lobby to present Mr. H his quilt, another man came up to the group sitting in the lobby and asked about the quilt we were holding. During the conversation he proudly told of his service in the Navy, too.  A sailor from a later generation,  Steven S served during the Desert Storm era on the USS Buchanan. Fortunately a quilt was waiting in the car to find it's new home, so his service is now recognized, too.  As we went out the door Steve quietly mentioned that his daughter and son-in-law just returned from Afghanistan. It looks like two more quilts are needed for that family.

These men's pride in our country through loud and clear as they spoke of their service. It was indeed a pleasure to meet them and be able to tell them thank you for our freedom.


submitted by Linda K Oregon/Alaska

Mick's Quilt of Valor

Mick D of Lewiston was presented this Quilt of Valor on 4/22/2012.

Mick is a WWII Veteran and just celebrated his 89th birthday.  He is
pictured with Helen H - 80 something - the maker of this quilt.  It
is the first quilt Helen has ever made.  She did not know it would be given
to someone she knew.


Helen is a member of the Lewis-Clark Quilts of Valor in Lewiston, Idaho

Submitted by Sharon L

Quilts of Valor Needs you!!!

QOV Currently has vacancies in the following states, and needs a regional Coordinator for each.

Arkansas
California
Connecticut
Florida
Hawaii
Kentucky
Massachusetts
Missouri
North Carolina
New Hampshire
Oklahoma
Ohio
 South Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia
West Virginia

If you are interested would you please email Lori at Lori @ Qovf. org  ?

You have to watch

Check out  this video about Quilts of Valor at Landstuhl!!!

QOV in Montana

We know several of you are very curious as to what is happening with Quilts of Valor – Montana Chapter.   We have just completed four (yes – 4) years of presenting our military service members with quilts and /or pillowcases.  Here are several highlights from the past four (4) years.

-  We started with 15 men making blocks for the first quilt that was delivered to Walter Reed Hospital in 2008.  We have grown to the point where we have hundreds across the great State of Montana contributing blocks, quilt tops, completely finished quilts, specially designed labels, fabrics, thread, long arm quilting, sewing machines for our workshops and monetary donations for shipping and supplies.

- We had out grown the classroom at Quilts on Broadway in Belgrade, and the Armory (Readiness Center) near Belgrade has been unavailable so we moved to Gaub’s Garage (a three stall facility which is heated in the cool months and cooled in the warmer months).  We have had as many as 61 quilters coming and going over the two sew days every 4th Friday and Saturday from January through October.  PLUS our quilters (men and women) are stitching at their own homes or with groups locally at churches and quilt guilds/groups.  We have Cub Scouts working on quilts; high school students stitching a QOV for their community service project; businesses participating in a community service project; workshops with Montana National Guardsmen in Belgrade and Missoula stitching and signing their quilt blocks ; workshops at local churches and at the Holter Museum in Helena where 18 ladies stitched and signed blocks; another workshop in Helena where individuals were encouraged to make a block and sign them.

- We have presented our mission to quilt guilds, textile groups, PEO Chapters, homemakers clubs, church quilt groups, churches, quilt shops, individual quilters (men and women), Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs, the Daedalians, Veterans Appreciation Dinners/Luncheons, Veteran Service Organizations meetings, and have met individually with many Veteran Service personnel at Fort Harrison and Malmstrom Air Force Base.  We have displayed our quilts in the First Security Bank window in downtown Bozeman and Belgrade Intermediate School; and were featured at the Bozeman Quilt Show as well as the Fairfield, MT Quilt Show.  We participated the past two years with an entry in the Memorial Day Parade in Bozeman, and we have been featured in several statewide publications.

- Our first priority is to cover our Montana service members which we are focusing on at this time.  We have been honored to present 26 quilts to Montana service members, and are working with personnel at Fort Harrison (Helena) and Malmstrom Air Force Base (Great Falls) to deliver more to our “wounded warriors” and / or Purple Heart Awardees.  We delivered 40 quilts to the Glendive, MT Veterans Center and 78 patriotic pillowcases to the Miles City, MT Veterans Community Center.  Twenty five quilts have been delivered to the PTSD Recovery Care Clinic for our Montana soldiers at Fort Harrison, Montana.

- Each quilt has a specially designed label, a letter to the warrior and a Montana postcard which is stamped and addressed back to our Montana Chapter.  We certainly do not expect to receive any of the postcards as a thank you, but when we do it is very encouraging to keep on stitching knowing that our contribution is appreciated.

The following are a few of the most recent notes we have received:

“I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for all the work you do.  I am honored to have served fine folks such as yourself.  Also want to send a special thanks to C. L. for the beautiful quilt she made and made me feel more at home during my stay at the Ft. Harrison Hospital.  God Bless.”

Received via email:  “I was in Afghanistan and got wounded.  On my way home I received one of your valor quilts and I love it.  It says it’s from the Montana Chapter.  Thanks so much.”

“On behalf of my patient (19 yrs. old), he wants to thank you all and really appreciated the beautiful quilt, and he was using it in our hospital and on his flight going back to the states this Sunday.  And if you don’t heard from them, I want to let you know that our wounded warriors are all happy to have your hand made quilts.  Thank you.”

“Thank you very much for the quilt; just knowing folks like you care about us made all the difference in the world to us over there.  You will always be in my heart.  Thank you for caring.

“Thanks for doing this very nice quilt for me.  It is because of you that I did what I did and would again now if they would let me – “Freedom isn’t Free” – and you are paying us back with every stitch.  Thanks again – Bud”

“Thank you so much for the quilt.  It means a lot to me.”

“Thank you for sending such beautiful quilts for Wounded Warriors.  Amazing work from strangers to strangers, touching our hearts and meeting physical needs also.  You are what make America great.  Outpatient Soldier, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center – Germany”

“Thank you; you have put a smile on a vet’s face.  Keep up the good work.”

“Thank you so much for the time and effort in making my quilt.  I will use it during my stay at the VA and for many years at home.  I really appreciate your dedication to veterans.”

“Thank you very much for the great quilts.”

“Thank you so much for the quilt.  I was recently medevaced from the Middle East and finally returned home to continue further treatment.  Your quilt is amazing and I will always treasure it.  Thanks to people like you supporting us. It makes everything easier and brought a much needed smile to my face.  Thank you so much! (Sorry for the sloppy writing, just now getting that ability back. LOL.)

- We are sure we are forgetting something as so much has occurred over the past years, but we are so grateful for everyone who has participated in the many ways to get our quilts to our “warriors.”  Our mission continues, but as one Montana National Guardsman stated, “We hope to put you out of business.”  We do have a long ways to go before that happens so we keep on stitching.


We will be participating again in the Bozeman, Montana Memorial Day Parade.  Some of the men have been designing the entry so come and assist.  If you want to be a part of our entry, please contact Sheila Gaub at 406 / 586-6908 or 406 / 579-5051.  We have had a lot of fun the past two years – rain or shine!!!



THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

Eye Candy From California

Don't you just love seeing what others have made? 

It gets my creative juices going and ready to make more!

These were all made by Barb W and her groups in So Cal.

They are looking for LongArm quilters to help them get them quilted.  

So if your interested drop me a line and I will forward it to Barb.

New QOV Fabrics in the works

New QOVF Fabric being introduced in June 2012

Stonehenge - Stars & Stripes - Single Colorway
By Linda Ludovico in support of Quilts of Valor Foundation
Coming to stores in June, 2012

Preview at the link below -

http://www.northcott.net/?sid=2&layout=2col&content=fabric_details&colid=511&colorid=863

QOV in Afghanistan

Hey,

Just wanted to send a few pics.  We are at FOB Orgun-E (near the Pak
border).  Your quilts arrived and we are turning them over to the Field
Surgical Team here.  They would have a better chance being "packaged" up
with the soldiers we pick up from the frontline on the border and ensured
that the quilts continue on with the soldiers all the way back to the
States.

It is a big morale booster for me and my guys to be able to hand these
quilts out to the soldiers.  My team is pretty much all over the place and
never stay in one spot.  I cannot express how much it means for the
support that your group displays in making these quilts.  I try to include
the email addresses of the people that send us quilts and sure that I have
not covered everyone.  Just reading Jean's letter attached to one of the
quilts about how over 100 ladies spend their time making quilts for us is
overwhelming.  Please send thanks out to all the quilters around the
country from the different States.  One of our favorite past times about
receiving the quilts is seeing if a quilt came from one of our soldiers'
home state.  Thank you from my DUSTOFF crew.

Our time is short though and we are looking forward to being back in the
States.  I am going to talk to some of the FSTs or the Bagram hospital and
see if there is a good contact if you would like to continue sending more
quilts.  I know the Bagram hospital is where most of the cases funnel thru
back to the States.

Hope all is well back home!

Very Respectfully,

Franklin W.

Diane in Utah - Spotlight Sunday

Diane is retired Air Force, yet still works for the military. She was diagnosed with an injury, yet didn't want to give up her quilting. So before she *officially* retired she made sure she had a long arm machine!!

In 2007 she attended HMQS in Utah and saw the Quilts of Valor booth. The Judge that year was Marcia Stevens from QOV-UM  ( that's upper Midwest). Marcia had waived her judging fee that year if she was given a booth space for QOV. Apparently it worked!!

That got Diane hooked and in 2008 thru now she has been responsible for the Quilt of Valor booth.

Diane Figures she pieced about 20 QOV's per year, but machine quilts 50 to 100!!

One of the place Diane loves to travel to is Australia. They have friends in the Navy there and while visiting she attended a quilt guild. There she met a lady who's husband had received a QOV, and the challenge was on to cover their own!.     This was in 2009, and this last January she traveled down under again, and helped them set up a QOV system like we have here.

Diane is busy promoting QOV thru Utah and their state guild, as well as helping promote HMQS. She is hoping a lot of QOV's are brought into the show!! Considering that we have more requests that quilts available - I am hoping with her!!

in 2013 there are 2 VA nursing homes going in in Utah, and they will be needing approximately 240 QOV's to cover those veterans.  Good thing Diane never seems to tire!!  There is definitely no Down time for this girl.

Recently we have been talking about First QOV"s - here are 2 of Diane's first

Machine Quilting Exposition

Quilts of Valor booth at Machine Quilters Expo (MQX) in Providence, Rhode
Island - the show is next week: Thursday thru Saturday, April 12, 13 & 14.
We will be in booth 632 & 634.

If you are available to help in the booth, please contact Ellen at
ellenr@qovf.org or by phone at 607/329-9678 (cell).

Be sure to bring in your tops and finished quilts - we can get your tops
quilted and can save you shipping costs for your finished quilts.

We look forward to seeing you at MQX.

Under our Wings in Boulder CO

As the single mother of an only child, when my son enlisted in the Army last year I was instantly struck with fear. In spite of that, I decided I had better pick up my cheerleader mom pom-poms and look for ways to be supportive.

Years earlier I'd served on a Board with Becky F, an avid quilter, and vaguely remembered she had been involved in a project of quilting for soldiers. I'd not sewn in over 20 years but thought it might be fun to get involved in both. It would be a win-win situation. I met with Becky and she patiently started me on my first quilt.

I mentioned it to another friend and she asked if she could join us as she wanted to support me and also return to sewing again. What began as a simple means to show my son I supported his decision has turned into a wonderful group of supportive women eager to support all of our troops.

In just four sessions our little group has now grown to eight; made up of those never having sewn to proficient quilters. The name Wabi Sabi Quilters seemed to be a natural for us as Wabi Sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and that was how we began to explain all of our little 'beauties.'

 I've set up a sewing space in my home and we plan to meet every six weeks. We have lunch, laughs, and sew from about 10-4. We generally finish a quilt top each session and anticipate even more as our skills improve.

My advice for any new quilter seeking to get involved is to find an unflappable (believe me, we've pushed it) mentor (Becky is already taken) and get started. You will reap far more than you sew. :-)

Submitted by
Terry K -
Longmont, CO

Persimmon Mystery Quilts

Over at Persimmon Quilts  Leann has some amazing Quilt of Valor patterns as Mysteries. Here are a few that were made by the Lewis-Clark Quilts of Valor. Leann keeps her patterns up, so you can always go back and make the old mysteries.....

Enjoy

Lewiston ID Presentations

The Lewis-Clark Quilts of Valor presented 19 Quilts of Valor March 23, 2012
at the Lewiston, ID VFW Post.  Four additional QOV were there for
presentation but due to illness were taken to be presented to each.

Gwen Rankin, VFW National Auxiliary President was present and helped with
the presentations.    We presented 6 WWII Veterans, 3 Korean War Veterans,
12 Vietnam Veterans and 2 Desert Storm Veterans.

One of the Veterans receiving was Howard, a Korean War Veteran.  Howard had
been present at our Sew Day in May of last year.  He happened to be
standing next to Catherine Roberts, our founder.  He was there to cheer on
the 16 Vietnam Vets being presented.  In the course of the conversation,
Catherine asked Howard if he had received a quilt.  "No ma'am, they don't
give us old guys quilts."  So Catherine, if you are reading this - Howard
has his quilt!!  I gave him a great BIG hug from you!  Then I gave him
another one for me and another one for all the QOVers.

Perhaps the highlight of the presentations was a quilt presented to Dale

G.  He handed me a letter and asked if I would read it.  (Dale had 5

Vietnam Tours).  He said he would like me to share his letter with everyone

associated with Quilts of Valor Foundation.

"My heartfelt thanks to Sharon & Quilts of Valor Foundation.  The war for

me started April 15th 1965.  It began as a P.F.C. Rifleman in the Marines.

It ended with my last Med-Evac mission with the 498th Dust Off on Oct 4,

1971.

Between those years were many horrific, traumatic and heart wrenching

times.  But 40 some years later, of all the ugliness of war, the hardest

hit to my heart was the lack of respect, the failure to acknowledge what I

had endured as a young Marine & Soldier.  Basically, no welcome home!

Tonight I've gotten that welcome home.  Thank you and Semper Fi."

Following the presentations, Gwen addressed the group and told us there

were now 2 events which stood out as unforgettable experiences in her

capacity with the VFW,  our presentation being one of the two.  She told us

she remembers being at Landstuhl, Germany Hospital visiting and seeing the

wounded arrive.  She said she vividly remembers seeing a young man with a

quilt, questioning the nurses -"You mean this is mine, you mean I get to

take it with me when I leave?".  She said it must have been a Quilt of

Valor.  Yes, ma'am,  it was.

Submitted by Sharon L

Spokane Returning Warriors Weekend

*Spokane, WA Returning Warriors Weekend
March 10, 2012
*

There are a few events in your life that are life changing.  March 10,
2012 was one of them for me.  Due to a huge effort, we were able to acquire
44 QOV's for the Returning Warrior Weekend.  We had one week to round up
the quilts and have them in place for presentation.

The dinner and Awards Banquet was deeply emotional.  I wish everyone could
have the opportunity to be a part of one of these ceremonies.  It is
Warriors helping Warriors.  It is looking at the service to our country
from the Warriors point of view.  What a privilege and feeling of walking
on "Sacred Ground" in that room.

Heather asked if I would choose one quilt for presentation during my
address to the group.  It was our chance to share the meaning of a Quilt of
Valor from our point of view.  As I was sticky rolling the quilts, readying
them for presentation, an envelope and letter popped into view - obviously
written by a "young" person.  I opened the letter and read it - choking
with pride - Brianna M, age 11 from Ephrata, WA had made her "first
quilt.  THIS was the quilt I wanted presented.

When the time came to cal our Warrior to the stage, I asked him if I might
share "His" letter from Brianna to the audience.  It started - "Dear
soldier" - she said this was her "first Quilt of Valor but it is not going
to be my last".  She said her Grandpa served in the "Correin War" and he
had died in 2009.  She said she really missed him.  AND THEN SHE SAID,
"Would you write me back?"  Not a dry eye in the house!  From the mouths of
babes is simplicity and love.  He said he would.  You see, he also has an
11 year old daughter.  She has had a very difficult time with her dad being
deployed.  I think this pairing was made in heaven.

I told the recipients, when they came forward to choose and receive their
QOV, there was one Non-negotiable event that would take place.  There would
be a hug.  I told them the hug was coming from me and also from each of
you, a thank you and a welcome home soldier.  And then I said something
pretty stupid!  I told them I wouldn't break so I expected them to lay the
best hug they had on me.  Well, some took me at my word!  There must have
been a couple of bruises - but boy was it worth it!!  Of the 30 recipients,
6 were women.  There were some gentle hugs and then there were some bear
hugs.  There were short hugs and the hugs that just couldn't let go.

To all in the Quilts of Valor community, young and old alike, please accept
YOUR thank you from all of the persons present at the event.  I have
attached a Certificate of Appreciation form Captain Carl J. Grim,
Commander, Navy Region Northwest, Reserve Component Command.  It expresses
their gratitude and the importance of the Quilts of Valor Foundation.

Following presentation, we asked the Warriors to drape their quilts and
have pictures.  I was pleased to accept their invitation, on behalf of all
QOV Quilters, to be a part of their group picture.

JPG 192 - is Jason accepting his quilt and letter made by Brianna

JPG 199 - the screen set as each warrior came forward for his hug and
welcome home

JPG 220 - group photo

Below is a note from Heather to the QOV community.

  Hi Sharon!

 I hope everything is going well and that this weekend goes well for your
 QOV presentation!

 Here are the other photos, from the actual Banquet of Honor/QOV Ceremony.
 I have been reading the feedback from the RWW and so many service-members
 and their guests said it was the highlight of the weekend to be recognized
 this way!  You all made this such an incredible event and I want you to
 know it meant the world to them and to me for getting to work with you
all!  I'm looking forward to the next RWW!!

 Have a great weekend!

 Sincerely,
 Heather K

Submitted by Sharon L 

A Tennessee Presentation

We have just finished a Quilt of Valor for a soldier who will be returning to Afghanistan. 


Thought you might like to see Mark and his wife, Toy when we presented the quilt to Mark.


Mark retired from the FBI last year.  Mark is embedded with the Marines as a law enforcement Professional.  

Submitted by Virginia

Under Our Wings

Shortly before our first Sew-in here in Pendleton, OR in January of this year I received a phone call from a lady who sewed but had never quilted and wanted to try her hand at
a QOV. 


Her name is Judy W. I explained to her about our sew-in and
our Under Our Wings program, she thought it was a great idea and joined us at the sew-in. 


Judy is now working on her third QOV and doing very well. 


This picture  is of Judy at our Sew-in and of her first quilt top.