Appreciation Is Never Too Late

We received this message from the Spouse...

Just wanted to say THANK YOU for all you do.. I heard about Quilts of Valor and mentioned it to my daughter---and she submitted her father's name.

Jim served in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970 in the infantry in the Tay Ninh province in the shadow of the Black Virgin Mountain. He walked in the jungles, rice paddies and the red dirt ... and on May 19th, 1970 he and the weapons platoon were ambushed near Memot, Cambodia. Casualties were 2 of his friends, Jim and many other platoon members, all being wounded in action.

In all these years he has kept the anger and resentment inside of himself, until 2011 when out of nowhere he received a phone call from one of his platoon buddies - someone who remembered his name, and the town where he was born, and they took a chance and called. From that phone call forward, my husband has been a changed man - changed for the better.

Now he wears his ball cap that proudly shows his Manchu insignia and he appreciates people stepping up and saying "Thank You for your service, Sir"... I have seen tears come to his eyes... He is close to retirement age now, and I'm so thankful that although it's late, the appreciation is there for what these service guys have done... and it goes right to their heart.

Please know that what you are doing means more to them than you can imagine!!!

Sincerely
wife of Jim

Beyond the Binding

The Lincoln QOV-ers accepted Susan Gordon's block drive challenge and had a little help today from a famous Friend of the IQSM. Marianne Fons and her daughter, Mary, were in town to give their presentation "Beyond the Binding." We were delighted to have Marianne spend the afternoon sewing QOV challenge blocks with our group. Meanwhile, Mary went shopping and met the Easter bunny in one of our local quilts shops.

What An Honor!

I wish I could have been in full dress to render him a salute…..

 Like all of us we have heroes.

I find commonality with all veterans.

They touch our lives….John Savage is my hero.

He is a Silver Star and Distinguished Service Medal recipient……

WHAT AN HONOR! 

Wrapped in Red, White and Blue

A Letter to QOVF

Mrs. Barnes,

My wife and I wanted to pass on a special thank you to 'Nancy Drum' and the 'Rochester NY Quilters'.  They made the lovely patriotic quilt of valor that wrapped our son in love while he was on the gurney being air medevac'd back to the States.

Our son, Chris, was injured while serving down range.  He was medevac'd first to Germany and then to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, DC.  It has been a very difficult four months since his injury, and he still has another 3 to 6 months to go at the Brain Trauma Center.  The good news is that the prognosis is very good for a complete recovery. 

However, we will never forget the first pic that we saw of our son wrapped in red, white and blue.  Truly it is an expression of so much love, caring, and compassion for our Soldiers, Airmen, and Sailors who have given so much for Our Country. I can assure you that it gave our Chris comfort mentally to know that folks cared as well as provided him physical warmth on the cold flights.  It is now one of 'his treasures' that he has requested us to safeguard until he is out of treatment and back on his own.

So from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you, Nancy Drum, and the Rochester NY quilters for all the beautiful, hard work that you put into each and every quilt of valor.  We wanted you to know that you make a difference in so many lives - - just like you did for our son, Chris.

With our greatest appreciation and thanks,

Caroline and Lee

Courageous Service

From Lincoln, Nebraska

For their courageous service, five veterans were presented with Quilts of Valor at the Veterans Center on Saturday, April 12, 2014. 

 

MSG (Ret) USAR Ed S., served with the Army's ASA Battalion and was stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War. Upon leaving the station, he received the Meritorious Service Medal. He retired after completing a total of 27 ½ years of service; 3 active and 24 ½ reserves. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US Navy, Rear Admiral (Ret) Jim T., has served in several operational carrier squadrons and various related assignments as he progressed from ensign to rear admiral during a thirty-three year career. Military awards include the Legion of Merit (5), Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal (4), Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V (4), South Vietnamese Air Gallantry Cross and Presidential Unit Citation. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Larry B., Served with 101^st Airborne Bravo Company 2^nd/502^nd Infantry. He has received numerous medals including: Combat Infantry Badge, Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Hansen served in Vietnam with D Co, 1^st Bn, 7^th Cavalry, 1^st Cav Div. Although wounded himself, he announced his acceptance of the QOV was in memory of two of his fellow soldiers, David and Luis, that were killed in action.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ron S., went to Vietnam in January of 1967 as a 19 yr old and spent 1 year in-country. He said, "I am very proud of my service in the Army, and consider myself very lucky. I enjoy doing volunteer work at the VA.I don't really think that I am deserving of one of the beautiful quilts that the ladies make."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are so proud of these men and honored to connect with the Veterans Center so that we can wrap our vets with hugs and a QOV! They deserve a standing ovation for their courage and service.

Honor Flight

Gene K., a Korean War Veteran, was part of a group that participated in the last Honor Flight, on three charter planes, from Omaha, Nebraska, to Washington D.C.

There were over 400 Nebraska veterans from the Korean War that braved the snow and cold to visit a number of War Memorials in Washington D.C., at the end of March.

Gene is shown here with his Quilt of Valor made by Janet, who said, "What an honor, knowing that he received this quilt for his service to the U.S.A.!"