Patrick Henry School

Patrick Henry School has their 4th graders do a program and salute to Veterans every year.  We have attended for about 4 years.  This year's theme was the Real Meaning of Memorial Day" (and it wasn't just another 3 day weekend or an excuse for teachers to get away from students!)

They sang songs, then invited all the Veterans in the audience to come forward, introduce themselves and when and where they served.  One even joked that we the tax-payers had sent him around the world.  There were about 40-50 Vets in attendance.

We had several quilt requests to fill that evening including: Gloria S. who served in the Navy in Korea and her daughter Veronica who was in the Air Force.

Father Jim C. Sr served in WWII in the Army Air Corps and his son Jim C. Jr who served in the Army in Vietnam.

Vance W. served in the sub force of the Navy in Afghanistan.

A “Quilt of Valor” Home Coming celebration

On Saturday, March 9th 2013, we Honored the men and women of FSMT Kuwait of Charlie Company, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, as they returned HOME!

A special Thank you to all of you that made a “Quilt of Valor” for this Home Coming Celebration. Enjoy the pictures... It was a grand celebration! Just look at those smiles!

Debbie, Sue, Lynda and Myrtle
Montavilla Quilts of Valor Coordinators

Oregon Presentation

On February 10, we presented quilts to 17 members of the 270th ATCS of the Oregon Air National Guard at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon, who had been previously deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Qatar.

 The recipients posed for a group picture afterwards: 16 men and one woman.

You may ask why did we give that young man the black and white floral quilt? Why didn't we give it to the young woman who is holding the green and brown pieced quilt?

 Well, because they chose the quilts themselves! We laid all 39 quilts out on tables so they could see each one and gave them time to make a selection.

The lesson here was that our stereotypes can be highly misguided and when we have the opportunity, we should allow the recipients to tell us what they like.

Our presentation was a huge success, in the words of the logistics coordinator, shown with the quilt makers, "That was absolutely fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am honored that your organization takes so much pride in the United States Military personnel!!!"

--
Cindy Roche
SW OR Regional Coordinator (Medford)
Quilts of Valor Foundation 

Presentations - Central Idaho Quilters

The Veterans' Day Quilt of Valor Presentation Ceremony was another highlight of our lives. We had several ladies (who are members of the Central Idaho Quilters Guild) attend for their very first time. They're hooked!! We were able to present 20 of the 25 quilts we had ready for the occasion. Thanks to Arlene Thomas for our great pictures. The event was held in Kamiah, Idaho, with approx. 100 people in attendance.

We shared laughter, tears, and pride as we said the Pledge of Allegiance, sang the National Anthem and then "muddled" our way through the songs that represent each branch of the service. We presented quilts to veterans and soldiers from World War II to Afghanistan and Iraq. What a day. It was again a day of so many emotions. I love my job as coordinator. And I appreciate so much the work that all our ladies do to get these quilts finished and ready for presentation. A special thanks to Candy Throop, Pam Bruner, and the many others who helped with quilts, decorating, setting up and tearing down, and for all the delicious cookies!! So many cookies!!!

Our next presentation will be Memorial Day, 2013. Get to work ladies!!

For more pictures go to ClearwaterProgress.com, click on "order Prints Here" on the left side bar. Then click on "Recently added" on the right side bar, then click on Quilts of Valor. Thanks to Gina Jorgensen for her fine photography and for putting the group photo on the front page of the Progress. You are so appreciated.

Happenings in Salina

I would like to share a couple of stories of Quilt of Valor presentations that occured in Salina, KS.

In 1982, Derrick crossed the stage at Ell-Saline High School. This was 2 years before me, and I remember him well.  He was such a likable guy.  He always made you laugh and was just one of those you would never forget going to school with.

Forward 30 years, my sister calls, and says. " Tina they are having a family reunion for Derrick." And I asked, "You want me to come?  I’d be glad to see him again." But then she says the most shocking thing to me.

"No, Tina, you don’t understand.  He hasn’t been home in 17 years,  and I would like you to present him with a Quilt of Valor."

I think I dropped my phone.  I was in shock.  Derrick was in the Military?  Not only was he in the Military, he had over 400 jumps under his belt and a Bronze star.  In 2003 he was in Enduring Freedom.  My mind was just a jumble of all kinds of thoughts.  First, I could not believe that this mild mannered young man had joined the Military and he retired Military.

The highlight of this presentation is when I told Derrick that he had to use his new woobie, not hang it on a wall or put it away.  He then explained to everyone what a woobie was in Military terms.  Although we all think of a term for a well loved blanket, it means something totally different to Military veterans and Service Members.  Derrick said not to worry…It was the best woobie he ever had and it would be well used.  Through the tears of his story of the woobie, we still had to smile.

The second presentation was that evening at an annual Christmas dinner party.  One of our sponsors has many veterans and a few service members working for them. We try to present one Quilt of Valor a year to an employee of theirs. Well, unbeknownst to me, Bill was the recipient of this one. 

I have known Bill since the 1990’s and never knew he served.  He had never talked about it.  He has recently gone through some very hard times health wise and to present him was such an honor.

At the party Santa gives out gifts to the kids. Santa has me standing me up there with him,  and calls Bill up.  The look on his face…Priceless.

These are two of the most recent presentations that we wanted to share with you. They have been so touching to us.

Tina

Veterans Day In Idaho

The Veterans' Day Quilt of Valor Presentation Ceremony was another highlight of our lives. We had several ladies (who are members of the Central Idaho Quilters Guild) attend for their very first time. They're hooked!! We were able to present 20 of the 25 quilts we had ready for the occasion. Thanks to Arlene Thomas for our great pictures. The event was held in Kamiah, Idaho, with approx. 100 people in attendance.

We shared laughter, tears, and pride as we said the Pledge of Allegiance, sang the National Anthem and then "muddled" our way through the songs that represent each branch of the service. We presented quilts to veterans and soldiers from World War II to Afghanistan and Iraq. What a day. It was again a day of so many emotions. I love my job as coordinator. And I appreciate so much the work that all our ladies do to get these quilts finished and ready for presentation. A special thanks to Candy Throop, Pam Bruner, and the many others who helped with quilts, decorating, setting up and tearing down, and for all the delicious cookies!! So many cookies!!!

Our next presentation will be Memorial Day, 2013. Get to work ladies!!

For more pictures go to ClearwaterProgress.com, click on "order Prints Here" on the left side bar. Then click on "Recently added" on the right side bar, then click on Quilts of Valor. Thanks to Gina Jorgensen for her fine photography and for putting the group photo on the front page of the Progress. You are so appreciated.

Wyoming

Special Note: Image 1703 is of the Arapaho Nation's flag made into a quilt for lady veteran who is an Arapaho (Native American) from our local Wind River Indian Reservation - which serves both the Shoshone and Arapaho. The quilt was designed and made especially for this young woman. She was surprised and very honored by this very special quilt ,

Image 1689 is of an 89 year old WWII nurse receiving her QOV.

Image 1675 shows me, my nephew Matt (who helps me at the shop and who loves to quilt for QOV), and my uncle. My uncle received his quilt (which I made & quilted in a week!!) from his great nephew, Matt.

#1673 shows me presenting my right-hand QOV'er, Chestine Brohm, with her surprise QOV. She served as an Army nurse in Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm, and other places. She retired from reserves as a Colonel! She has such a heart for QOV and helps me 150% in all everything. She will be helping me get a group going in several other communities, as well as helping at the State Quilt Guild's summer show and meetings. She presented a quilt (with my husband's help) to her husband, Dr. Bill Brohm, who served as general surgeon in Vietnam (which is where they met).

In service to those who stand in the face of war,

Stephanie Logan
Region 3 Coordinator for Wyoming

Currahee Military Weekend Banquet

Over the weekend of October 5-7th a group of Region 8 Quilts of Valor
Quilters met in Toccoa, Georgia to sew and to participate in a
presentation of QOV’s to 12 Camp Toccoa WWII veterans.

Camp Toccoa was the training location for the paratroopers in preparation for the invasion
of Europe and D-Day. The story of the Camp Toccoa soldiers is
immortalized in the book and movie “Band of Brothers”.

Each veteran was presented a quilt by one of the quilters and you’d have thought they were
children and it was Christmas morning! They loved the quilts and the
attention from the quilters. The quilters were as inspired as the
veterans were delighted. These living heroes, as Tom Brokow says
“literally helped to save the world.”

We also boxed up 20 quilts to send to Marcella’s destinations in
Afghanistan and Germany. For more photos from the weekend check out our
facebook page: www.facebook.com/wartimequilters

Susan Gordon & Anne Mixon, Region 8
Coordinators

Marine Corp Meeting

Lewis-Clark Quilts of Valor presented 6 Quilts of Valor at the monthly
Marine Corps League meeting.  One of the recipients was Sharon, now
retired, who was both a Vietnam and Dessert Storm nurse.   Sharon worked at
Walter Reed and seen the importance of our quilts.  She was deeply touch to
receive her quilt.


Stan had the honor of receiving an Al Lind quilt.  It was fitting for one
of members of this League to receive such a special quilt.  Most of the men
in this group are Vietnam Veterans.  They are a very active group in our
local community.  I find it uplifting to see men, as deeply wounded as they
have been, continuing to serve their fellow man with malice towards none.
They were the first to step forward and help with our QOV fundraising
projects.

I was honored, following the presentation, to be asked, along with my
husband, to be their Guest of Honor at their annual Marine Corps Ball this
year.  It was my turn to melt into a puddle of tears before them.  I love
these guys (gals).

--
Honoring those touched by war
Sharon L
Idaho Regional Coordinator
Quilts of Valor Foundation

Presentation in Kamiah ID

Yesterday, Memorial Day, 2012, was one of the most incredible days of my
life. The Central Idaho Quilters Guild worked really hard over the last 6
months in order to meet a goal of presenting at least 35 quilts. We had
only 2 we were not able to present, and one of those was in rehabilitation
and unable to attend. We had one active duty grand daughter (US Navy)
present to her grandfather who fought in Korea. One grandfather accepted
for his grand daughter who is an active duty Army Major, Black Hawk
commander. The tears flowed, we laughed from the bottom of our being, and
saw a tremendous bonding of our community. There were almost 200 people in
attendance, all interactive and cheering our veterans/soldiers on!! There
are no further words I can say to describe the tremendous satisfaction,
joy, sadness for those we lost, and the overwhelming pride we have for OUR
combat veterans. Just awesome!!

Thanks to a very special lady we invited to join us. Sharon Ledbetter, our
regional coordinator. What a gal!! We haven't known each other long, but
there are people that we instantly love and feel we have known forever. I
feel like I have another sister. I just now found her!!!

God bless everyone that had a hand in our presentations. What a great
group to be associated with!!

Jean Hisaw
Kamiah Coordinator
Idaho

And now what you all are waiting for - the pictures!!