Special Edition!

We have a very special story for you today.

First, a little background:

©       One of our very own CT Quilters, Maria, is also a member of the Cashiers Quilt Guild in Cashiers, NC.

©       Maria is a flight attendant for Delta Airlines.  She regularly signs up for charters that bring our troops back from various locales, including Germany.

©       Maria’s Cashiers Guild has been making Quilts of Valor for 4 years and donating to our wounded service personnel at Ft Bragg, NC (home of the Airborne and Special Operations Forces), Bethesda, MD (the Maryland Medical Center) and most recently to Kaiserslautern, Germany (Landstuhl Regional Medical Center) – and therein lies our tale!

Maria was instrumental in arranging for 57 quilts to be packed and shipped via Delta Airlines (52 from the Cashiers Guild and 5 from the Franklin/Sylvia’s Smokey Mountain Guild) .  She had help with the initial packing from her fellow guild members, Liz, Linda and LeVonna.  And when they drove to Atlanta to deliver the boxes at air cargo, the general manager graciously waived all of Delta’s airline cargo fees (a big “Thank You!” to Delta Airlines!). 



Liz (L), Maria (R) and Linda holding up the quilt (you can see her feet!)

So now the boxes were off and Maria had to catch her own flight the next day to Dusseldorf, Germany, where she rented a car, picked up the boxes and made the trek to Kaiserslautern and Landstuhl.  Landstuhl Medical Center is where our wounded soldiers receive Trauma Level 1 Treatment and is the largest American hospital outside of the US.

This is where Maria met with a PR representative, an Army chaplain with the Pastoral Care Unit, a tech sergeant and a photographer, all who were excited to receive her delivery of wonderful, comforting Quilts of Valor.

Chaplain (L), Maria (center) and PR Rep (R) with quilts and boxes

They were surprised that the quilts included pillowcase presentation cases, and they were thrilled at the beauty of the quilts.

Armed Forces personnel cared for in the Warrior Ward receive quilts through the Pastorial Closet that handles donations.

Maria with the Tech Sargent and quilts

Wounded warriors with Maria
(shading to protect their privacy)

Wounded warrior receiving his quilt from Maria
(shading to protect his privacy)

In Maria’s own words:

“It was a very rewarding and memorable experience for me to have been able to go to Germany and represent our Quilt Guild.  I am so pleased and proud that the company I work for was so gracious to support our cause and sponsor the shipment of the Quilts of Valor.”

On her return flight, Maria was accompanied by and attended to 300 Air Force troops, and more will be headed back home after the Holidays.

There was a very nice write-up of Maria’s very special trip by a columnist called “The Quilt Lady” (Bonnie Talley) in the Crossroads Chronicle on Wednedsay, Sep 26, 2012.  How wonderful that Maria and her guild were able to get the recognition that they deserve and to get the word out about the fantastic efforts of the Quilts of Valor Foundation.

Crossroads Chronicle

Kudos to you and the Cashiers Quilt Guild, Maria!

Quote of the Day:

From the world wars of Europe to the jungles of the Far East, from the deserts of the Middle East to the African continent, and even here in our own hemisphere, our veterans have made the world a better place and America the great country we are today.
John Hoeven (US Senator – ND)