Happenings In Oregon

On Sunday afternoon, another six Quilts of Valor were presented to our
American Military Heroes in a very nice ceremony in Springfield. Thank
you, Bobbie, for organizing!!


One of the Guardsmen from the audience came to speak with me afterward.
He had received his Quilt of Valor last February at the big Welcome Home
ceremony in Portland; he loves his quilt and has it put aside because he
was hesitant to use it because he did not know how to care for it. I
reminded him that this quilt was intended to be used, not just a wall
decoration, and gave him simple washing instructions. It will now be
wrapped around him frequently! He was very moved when awarded his QOV and
so inspired by the program that he wants to learn how to quilt so he can
make more Quilts of Valor for others!! He will soon be joining our local
group!


Submitted by J Marie and Pene

Its a Small QOV world

QOV was featured at the Lincoln (NE) Quilters Guild quilt show May 18-20 in Lincoln, NE.  Julia and I were manning the QOV table where we handed out QOV literature, invited visitors to the show to sign a QOV quilt block, answered questions about the quilts on display and QOV in general, etc.  Two ladies approached the table, and we were chatting about QOV while they signed blocks.  One mentioned she was from Colorado, and the other from Wyoming.  We asked where in Wyoming since I am also from Wyoming; she said Riverton so we asked if she had ever visited Sheep Camp Quilts in Shoshoni, which, of course she had.  Then, I commented that there is also a rather famous blogger from the Riverton area, who has a blog called Wyoming Breezes.  She laughed and said "well, that is me, and I am NOT famous!"    We explained that yes, she is, and that we totally appreciate her 12 in 12 QOV Challenge!

Attached is a pic of all of us standing by the QOV display (from left to right, Sara, Nancy and Julia)

Lincoln NE Quilters Guild QOV's

The Lincoln (NE) Quilters Guild biennial quilt show was held May 18-20 at
the Weary Center on the campus of Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln,
NE.  In addition to the nearly 350 quilts submitted to the show, the event
featured a special exhibit of Quilts of Valor.  We challenged the Guild
members to make 100 QOVs for the show, and by the end of the show, we had
102 QOVs!  The Guild's youth outreach program teamed up with QOV and
provided pre-cut strips of fabric for young visitors to the show to sew
into quilt blocks that will eventually make more QOVs.  Guests, young and
young-at-heart, were invited to sign more blocks that will also find their
way into future QOVs.  At the end of the show, we had hundreds and hundreds
of blocks!!

The QOVs and the youth program were housed on the second floor of the Weary
Center, providing a stunning upper view for visitors to the quilt show on
the ground floor. Visitors to the second floor commented that the setting
was cozy and inviting as well as impressive.  One visitor commented that
she had never seen so much red, white and blue in one place before!

Included in the display were  4 quilts made by 4-H members from Nebraska as
part of the Nebraska 4-H QOV Challenge.  4-H members in Nebraska are hard
at work on more QOVs that will displayed at local county fairs and the
Nebraska State Fair later this summer.

Though many of the QOVs were made by QOV "regulars," we also received quite
a number from quilters who had never before made a Quilt of Valor.
Receiving the quilts and hearing the quilters' stories about them was one
of the "best" parts of putting together the exhibit.  For example, one QOV
was made by a 93-year old mom and her daughter, and the daughter talked
about what a joy it was to sew with her mom.  Another QOV was made by a
prayer group at a local church, and one of the male members who did much of
the cutting of fabric recently passed away so the QOV represents a lasting
legacy to that prayer group.

The machine quilting on the QOVs was also noteworthy.  Julia S, the
co-coordinator for QOVF in Nebraska quilted a zillion of the QOVs, and she
was joined by long-armers from cities and towns all over Nebraska (check
out your maps for Lincoln, Omaha, Hickman, Syracuse, Elmwood, Ravenna,
etc......) and as far away as Minnesota, Virginia and Florida.

Visitors were invited to vote on "viewer's choice" among the QOVs on
display.  First place went to Cheryl K (with Kristin H as quilter) for
American Valor; second place was Ginny H (Joan O as quilter) for 9-Patch
Variation and third place was Ginny H (Julia S as quilter) for Stars and
Bars.

At the end of the show, 18 of the quilts traveled to Cozad, Nebraska where
they will be displayed as part of the 100th Meridian Museum's  Memorial Day
events.  Forty more of the QOVs are traveling to Texas where they will be
awarded to a group of Navy veterans from the Vietnam War.  About a dozen of
the quilts are being awarded as per individual requests received on the
QOVF website, and the remainder are set aside for the Nebraska National
Guard and the Warrior Transition Battalion at Ft Campbell, KY.

Submitted by:
Sara and Julia

Lewis and Clark Quilts of Valor

May 19, 2012 the Lewis-Clark Quilts of Valor met for a day of Sewing and
sharing.  Five WWII Veterans were presented a Quilt of Valor.  Two of our
veterans were POW.  These men were so appreciative to have been presented.

I have included the individual photo of John Hoye.  John has written his
memoir in a book called "Three Damned Wars Too Many".  There are not many
men of his caliber.  John not only served in WWII but Korea and Vietnam.
He was shot down twice, POW, 2 time Purple Heart recipient and according to
his wife, Bette, "a damned good pilot!".  John presented his book to me
before the presentations.  I have started reading it and am having a hard
time putting it down.

We were pleased to have June Moore and her hubby Mike join us.  We all know
June is wonderful but Mike is an equal with me.  As you can see, we put him
to work!

We were also pleased to have Debbie and Judy from Vancouver, WA.  They are
beginning their journey as Under our Wings coaches.  June 14 will be their
"kick-off" with the Montavilla QOV group.

submitted by Sharon L

Land of Lincoln QOV'ers

Troop Talk: Quilting group makes blankets for returning service members
By Nancy Strunk Kirby For The Beacon-News May 17, 2012 5:44PM

Dixie Riley of Elgin embraces a serviceman before presenting him with a quilt as part of a Land of Lincoln Quilts of Valor presentation at Aurora Central Catholic High School on Veteran's Day 2011. The quilting organization makes several hundred quilts for military personnel each year. | Submitted

At A Glance

What: Land of Lincoln Quilts of Valor, regional chapter of the international Quilts of Valor Foundation, makes quilts for soldiers returning from combat

Sponsor: Prairie Shop Quilts, 1911 W. Wilson St., Batavia, owned by Bonita Deering

Sew-ins: First Tuesday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and evening sew-in every third Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Special relationship with: Great Lakes Naval Base in Chicago

Quilt count: 420 quilts distributed in 2011 with 177 and counting for 2012

Contact: Rita Pennington, 630-897-7469 or garipenn@att.net

Rita’s blog: http://lolqov.blogspot.com

On the Web: www.QOVF.org (international foundation)


*********************************************************

At the back of Prairie Shop Quilts in Batavia, something is going on. When you walk in, the chatter of women’s voices filters up to the front counter. As you make your way to the opposite end of the large shop, you hear the whir of sewing machines and detect the distinct smell of hot irons.

When you make it to the classroom area, you find 14 women busily working — sewing, ironing quilt pieces, cutting cloth, searching for materials. They’ve been here since 10 a.m. and won’t quit until 2 in the afternoon.

Welcome to the monthly sew-in of the Land of Lincoln Quilts of Valor, an organization of quilting enthusiasts who make and deliver dozens of quilts around the Midwest to military personnel returning from combat. Every three to four months, they deliver 75 to 80 quilts to a representative of Great Lakes Naval Base in Chicago.

The quilts are then presented during Returning Warrior Workshops, which take place in cities throughout the Midwest to help honor and provide transitional support to returning sailors. The workshop culminates in a Saturday night banquet, where service members and their spouses are presented with awards and a quilt from Land of Lincoln Quilts of Valor.

Other quilts are distributed to vets through Hines VA Hospital, Operation Welcome You Home and other groups who make requests. Each quilt is affixed with a label bearing the name of the recipient and the names of the quilters.

“People just want to help,” says Rita Pennington of Aurora, who serves as the state’s regional coordinator for the national foundation. “They want to do something for the soldiers. It’s their way of giving back.”

Let the quilting begin

Pennington is lovingly known as the “sergeant” of the sewing troops who assemble once a month for their sew-ins. She maintains an extensive blog for the group, which highlights upcoming local and regional events, makes calls for donations and keeps a running count of quilts distributed to troops. For 2011, 420 quilts were presented, with a tally of 177 and counting for 2011.

At the end of a recent Tuesday sew-in, Pennington packed up her car with works in progress: 17 tops ready for backing, five finished quilts and 12 quilts still needing bindings.

Pennington, a lifelong seamstress, began sewing for Quilts of Valor on her own in 2004. Four years later, she approached Prairie Shop Quilts owner Bonita Deering about using the classroom space in her shop for a “sew-in.” Only four people came to the first event in 2008, but the word spread quickly in the quilting community. Gatherings have attracted up to 22 participants.

Quilters can come and go, putting in as much time as they are able, but most stay for the entire event, bringing a dish for a potluck lunch, which many quilters eat at their sewing stations, barely taking a break from their work.

Those unable to make the sew-ins can pick up kits they can work on at home and drop off at the shop. Ladies of the Land of Lincoln chapter span a range of cities, including Aurora, North Aurora, Carol Stream, Elburn, Kaneville, Millbrook, Montgomery, Oswego and Rolling Meadows.

Supporting the troops

Maggie Alvarado, of Rolling Meadows, a quilter for 20 years, has a son who served in Iraq and is stationed in Hawaii. Another son, serving with the Navy, died four years ago at Great Lakes Naval Base because of complications from a skull fracture.

Letting troops know that “we appreciate them” is what motivates her, Alvarado says. “You don’t realize how much these quilts and getting care packages mean to them,” she said.

All the materials for the quilts are donated, with quilters using personal stashes of supplies, and other supporters donating materials and money. The group attends events like the Aurora Farmers Market, raffling quilts to raise funds.

Deering, who has owned Prairie Shop Quilts for six years, says it was natural to say yes to the request to donate her classroom space for the Quilts of Valor group in 2008. Giving is part of the culture of quilting, she explains.

“Quilters are just generous people,” Deering says. “It’s something we can do — it’s a skill we have that people appreciate.”

Karen Lamboley of Montgomery brought along several friends from the Oswego area when she joined the quilting group several years ago. Lamboley’s husband served in the Air Force, and all four of his brothers are vets, with two serving in the Navy, one in the Army and one in the Marines. With that kind of military background, she knows what seemingly small gestures mean to service personnel.

“Our soldiers are just so grateful,” Lamboley says.

And although they can’t always be physically present when quilts are handed to deserving military personnel, the sewing ladies at Quilts of Valor know that their work is meaningful.

“We get the most loving notes from families about how much it meant to them,” Pennington says. “It’s an incredible feeling.”

The group’s quilting efforts are meant to send a simple message.

“We back home do care for the troops,” Lamboley says. “We worry about them and pray for them and want to support them in any way we can.”

Email freelance writer Nancy Kirby at nancystrunkkirby@gmail.com with ideas.