QUILTS FOR MY FRIENDS

QUILTS FOR MY FRIENDS

Mission statement of Quilts of Valor from their website: "The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover ALL combat service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor."

After hearing from friends about this truly wonderful organization and their legions of quilters all over our country, I realized that there were very special people in my life who I felt had earned the gift of a Quilt of Valor.  Patriotic themed custom made patchwork quilts mostly in reds, whites and blues, some with military branch patches, some with the recipient's name sewn in, and always with the names and towns of the volunteer quilters.

The first time I contacted the organization I was requesting a quilt for my friend Sgt. Gordon Ward, Iwo Jima Marine and the subject of my second article (Published 11/7/12).    I contacted them through their site and hoped to receive one in time for Father's Day 2010 and my wish was fulfilled!   That Father's Day is one that is etched in my mind forever.   Ana, his daughter, wheeled her father into a private party room where  she sang his favorite songs in karaoke and then I presented him with his beautiful quilt.   As weak and frail as he was he stood, saluted and sang for us the Marine Corps Hymn.    Hugging each other,  there were plenty of tears falling down our faces.     He cherished that quilt and enjoyed it for a full year, as he passed the day before Father's Day 2011.

The second time I contacted QOV  was for my father Henry Warren,  a WWII soldier who served in the Signal Corps in the Philippines. By 2010 he was ill and very frail.   I hoped that he would appreciate a quilt as he was always feeling cold, and what better way to stay warm than a quilt honoring him for his service to our country?   When it arrived he told me he felt unworthy of such a magnificent gift, but after some convincing he accepted it with an open heart.   Dad used his quilt through his last months he was alive, less than a year, but it warmed my heart so to see him use it regularly.   He passed away in a nursing home and it was the shining light in his room.   Now I have his quilt and I am so very thankful to display it knowing how fond he was of the quilt he first wanted me to return to the sender!!!

The third quilt I requested was for the husband of a friend from my church, David Schubert.   Ann and her husband had moved to Tennessee while he was in remission from a bout with brain cancer.   He was a former Navy Seal now in his 60's.   Sadly his cancer returned and I hoped to surprise him with a Quilt of Valor with which he would surround himself.  It was tricky, as I wanted it to be a surprise and have it delivered to their home.  When it arrived, not recognizing the return address on the package, Ann brought it to the hospital to ask David if he was familiar with the address and he was not.   He asked Ann to open it and there was one of the most beautiful handmade quilts they had ever seen.  I was able to see it draped over his bed in the hospital and his sofa at home in photos she shared with me via the internet.   There were but a few days left for David before the Lord took him home.

Late last year my brother-in-law Robert McBride, a soldier in Vietnam,  planned to retire at 65 and enjoy life but was diagnosed with Agent Orange related lung cancer.  He and his family live in North Carolina.   Knowing that Robert felt cold all the time, I wanted him to enjoy the warmth of a quilt.   Once more I called upon Quilts of Valor and they were able to create a beautiful quilt for Robert that he deeply loved for too short a  time before he passed away in May of this year.

Again and again each quilt brought joy, warmth and love to it's recipient.     Each of those beautifully hand crafted and personalized quilts showed that America cares, America remembers, and America will never forget.   What a
unique and exceptional way to show our veterans just how much our country cares.  I give thanks to the multitude of quilters who volunteer countless hours to craft quilts by the hundreds for our veterans, gifts that come from one heart to warm the heart of another.