4H - Nebraska State Fair - QOV EVENT

Photos from the 4-H QOV event at the Nebraska State Fair, 2013.  Nebraska 4-H kids made just over 60 QOVs this year!  A couple of the quilts have been selected to show in one of the galleries on the UNL campus for a few months but eventually, we will receive all of the QOVs and will begin distributing them. 

Submitted by:

Sara Kenny

Central Midwest Region Coordinator (NE, IA, KS)

Quilts of Valor Foundation

Tennessee the VOLUNTEER state

What a whirlwind!

My wife and I have spent our 15 hours this week doing about 70 hours of QOV.

After a great presentation at the Legacy Peers group, I went to Bristol to award a quilt to a Veteran of Desert Storm at the request of our Virginia Coordinator.  On the way back, I met with the Greene County Quilters.  I learned they have been making several quilts for the VA Hospital in Mountain Home, Tennessee, and none of them had been reported.  Fortunately they had kept good records, so together we reported over 70 quilts not previously recorded.

It has really been fun sitting here at the Tennessee Valley Fair.  (Did I say sitting?  Our feet are tired from all the standing). We have been here just four days, and already have signed up 35 volunteers that are wanting to sew for us.  We still haven't signed up any longarmers, but there are still 6 days left.

We have been approached by two local television Stations that want to do a story on QOV.   A Radio talk show host wants me to be on his call-in show to tell about Quilts of Valor. A Senior Center Director who is a Korean Vet tells me that the center has a nice sewing room and a longarm machine, and several people that want to sew, but they don't have a project.  I said, "Well, I've got the perfect project for you."  I am going there after the fair to get them excited about Quilts of Valor.  My wife will be showing them how to use the longarm machine, because no one knows how it works.

There are three separate church groups that have an organized sewing group that have asked me to speak to them about QOVF.  Two quilt guilds I didn't know existed want me to speak to their guild members.  And the Legioneers in North Knoxville want me to make a presentation and speak to their members.  This has truly been a whirlwind activity.  There are still six days to go.  I am going to have to make more handouts as I have practically exhausted what I thought would be plenty for the 10 days.  This is probably the most fun I have ever had.

On the Monday following the Fair, I will be speaking to the Lion's club awarding 2 more quilts. They have promised a donation.  On October 12th I have been invited to the Navy Ball to award 14 quilts and the next week to Dixson Tennessee to award another 21 quilts to Ft Campbell troops at their retreat.  Just like the Timex watch or Battery bunny, it just keeps going and going

It is fun to be in Tennessee the VOLUNTEER state.  Folks here really do live up to that reputation.

Thanks to all of you for the hard work you do to honor the true heroes of this great country.

Dennis Taylor
QOVF Coordinator for Tennessee

Deserving Soldiers of Idaho Army National Guard

 

On September 4, 2013, four deserving soldiers of the Idaho Army National Guard, 168th GSAB, were presented with Quilts of Valor at Gowen Air Field in Boise, Idaho. They are 1LT Jedidiah Stewart, CW2 Pat Noa, SPC Zane Brown, and SGT Sterling Reece. Their pilot in command, CW2 Tony Weston, received his QOV at an earlier date.

 

Pictured are Teri Devine, who presented the quilts, and Jedidiah Stewart.

 

Tony Weston presented Teri Devine with an American Flag flown by A Co. 1-168 GSAB in Afghanistan, also at an earlier time.

STEP UP TO FREEDOM

Roger Lemons was honored by the Lewiston, ID. Marine Corps League this past Monday, Sept 2.  Roger is now in Hospice care. He is a Vietnam Veteran who served with the Marine Corps.  Six members of the League, in dress uniform, escorted me to his home to award his Quilt of Valor. 

 

He was tickled to learn the pattern of his quilt is

 "Step Up to Freedom". 

 He said it was a most fitting pattern for him. 

He asked me to convey his thanks to everyone who works honoring and comforting those who serve.  I, of course, shared a BIG hug with him from all of you.  LOL - I gave him another when we left.  I told him it was his "lucky day".  Truth be told it was "MY" lucky day! 

QOVF From Community Quilters

From Lincoln, Nebraska.

Lester, pictured with his wife, visited the IQSCM, today. He was surprised by being presented with a Quilt of Valor from one of our community quilters. He says he is extremely proud to have served our nation during the Cuban missile crisis. 

He also enjoyed the museum exhibits as well as visiting with the community quilters and spinners in the reception hall. He encourages anyone passing through Lincoln to pay a visit.

International Quilt Study Center & Museum - Facebook Page

Joshua Edward Owings receives QOVF quilt

From left to right
Teri Devine, Alene Fischer (Josuha's grandmother)

and Joshua.

 
Joshua Edward Owings receives QOVF quilt

On June 26, 2013, Sgt Joshua E. Owings was honored by the Quilts of Valor Foundation and the Idaho VFW for his almost 11 years 1 month service in the U.S. Army, serving three tours in Iraq.  Presenting the quilt was Teri Devine with the Quilts of Valor Foundation group in Nampa, Idaho.

He retired from the Army early be- cause of medical issues. His shoulder had to be re- constructed while in the Army. Then after a terrible accident in Georgia, he survived with some serious injuries to his back, ribs, pelvis, spleen and kidney.  He is in very good spirits and looks forward to the future.
Joshua says he had a good experience and would probably be in jail if he hadn’t gone off to serve his country. His advice for young people considering the military he says to "do your research and keep your options open. You won’t enjoy it or gain as much from the experience if you just go in blindly." 

Joshua said the original plan upon in- listing was to serve one hitch, see some of the world and get out. But after going into combat with his fellow soldiers he felt he couldn’t leave back without him. “It’s a family, you’ve got each-other’s back. You depend on each other the way no one outside of the military will ever understand,” he says.

Joshua has a chest full of awards, the list of which are:
Army Commendation Medal (2nd award)
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Army Superior Unit Award
Army Good Conduct Medal (3rd Award)
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal Campaign Star (2nd Award)
Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon Overseas Service Ribbon (3rd Award)
Combat Infantryman Badge

Expert Infantryman Badge

The ladies and gentleman at the Parma Senior Center gave Joshua a welcome home that he described as “outstanding, incredible,” later he added “overwhelming”. At the ceremony in the Parma Senior Center Herb Endicott, Idaho VFW District Commander chapter read an outline of Joshua's service to our country. He invited  Joshua to join the VFW his fellow soldiers to go and said “You are one of us now, let us know if we can do anything for you. Let us know if you need anything.”

Also present to make this presentation special were Joshua’s mom, Carolyn "Kari" Blackmore and her husband Brian, Joshua’s daughter,  Breaunna, came from Spokane to surprise her dad.  Josh's Uncle John Owings along with his son, Garrett, came from Weiser, Idaho. Joshua also has a son Trevor who lives in Seattle and was unable to attend. Representatives from the Parma Fire, Police, and Ambulance crews were also present, along with the VFW groups from New Plymouth, Wilder and Payette, Idaho.  The Parma Senior Center was PACKED with people honoring Josh.

“Today, this has got to be the best welcome home a man could get,”he said “The first time I came home, it was just my family. But this time, it’s amazing, the whole dang town!”

Welcome home Joshua Owings and thank you for all you have done for us.