This Is The First I've Been Thanked For What I Did...

What a wonderful, emotional week.  This year to coincide with Veterans Day, the Vietnam Moving Wall is in town.  One can see it's both a great day and a sad day for some.  Our Vietnam Veterans are still healing.  Heard just last night again, "this is the first I've been thanked for what I did".  Oh, I hope they feel America has it right now.  We need to keep thanking and thanking our Veterans.

Friday, I had the biggest high for me personally.  I presented my Uncle with his much deserved Quilt of Valor.  My uncle was part of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings as a flight engineer.  He few over the two cities prior to both bombings.  His plane was the Yokohama Yo-Yo.  They also few in almost immediately after the bombs were dropped.  It's a generation where they just held it all in...no wonder!  Thank you, Uncle Reuben...and Aunt Marianne---she is our pillowcase, pincushion maker and log cabin/flag pin maker!

Friday night we attended a Gala event by Presence (formerly known as Provena Hospital).  It was their annual fundraiser and this year their theme was for the Veterans.  They honored two WWII veterans Joe and Helen R.

  What a nice couple and their family!

Saturday morning I had the honor of presenting a quilt to Bud F.  Bud's request  was a result of the TV segment by Brian Williams a few weeks ago.   This Marine did his tour of duty in Vietnam.  You can see the Vietnam Moving Wall in the background.  Bud, there, wrapped in his quilt, was there reading the names of the Fallen.  They had the names read 24/7.  His remarks sent to me were:

"Wow.  I am sooooo happy with my quilt.  I sincerely appreciate receiving it and will cherish it always.  Thank you so much.   And thanks for meeting me on this cold cold morning. 

If your husband has any pictures to share, I would love to see them.

Thanks again ---  this is great !

BUD"

Saturday afternoon, we had a very successful sew-in in Winfield AGAIN!  Thank you Marilyn for "working" the block(s) and all who attended.  I just can't get over how many strips we used.  Thank you Stephanie G---Stephanie, from Quilters Haven came with her HQ Sweet Sixteen and quilted some tops!  Gotta love my machine quilters!  So, thank you, Kelly and St. John the Baptist Church for yet another successful sew in...they keep getting bigger.  Last I heard we had more than enough for one quilt.  We also had a presentation to a WWII Veteran (another request from the TV segment, Making a Difference. Lieutenant Colonel (Army) Richard V,  served in WWII in the Battle of the Bulge receiving the British Military Medal, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Battle of Central Europe and TWO Purple Hearts.  WHAT A HERO!!  Thank you, Richard, for your service.

What a great family presence.  

Saturday afternoon, Jane and Priscilla joined me at Holy Angels Church and we presented 6 quilts to more Veterans.

What a very rewarding day.  I've said over and over...ya wonder who gets more out of it!!!
More tomorrow.
Rita