Monday, May 27, 2013

A Day of Remembrance


Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.  Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.  The day was originally established as a gesture of respect for service and duty, for reconciliation and for healing deep wounds after the US War Between the States.

Although traditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years, many moving ceremonies continue to honor those who gave their all.  Here are just a few:

Arlington Nat'l Cemetery
Since the late 1950s, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3rd US Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery.  They then patrol 24-hrs/day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing.
 
Bay Pines National Cemetery,
St Petersburg, FL
Beginning in 1951, the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St Louis began placing flags on the 150,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery as an annual Good Turn.  In 1998, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at each of approximately 15,300 grave sites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on Marye’s Heights.
 
Florida Nat'l Cemetery, Bushnell
Many other Boy and Girl Scout Troops took up the challenge and place American flags at other National Cemeteries – here are several:
 
Boulder, CO

San Francisco, CA

Jacksonville, FL


Please take a moment at 3:00 PM local time on Memorial day to observe a Moment of Silence or listen to Taps, and pause from whatever you are doing to say a word of remembrance and pay your respects.
  
All we have of freedom, all we use or know –
This our fathers bought for us long and long ago.
~Rudyard Kipling, The Old Issue, 1899

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Recap of 05/17/13 Meeting

We had the most delightful time at our most recent Quilts of Valor meeting.  We were able to welcome two new members, Irene and Loretta, and each had a special story to tell:

            Irene:  I was invited to attend the group’s meeting by Sharon [a CT Quilter] and I was eager to join because I have a very special grandson coming home from Afghanistan soon. Robert is a paratrooper and has been serving a 14 month rotation.
           
We, here at the CT Quilters, are so glad to have your and we're all excited for your Robert to come home, too, Irene!

            Loretta:  “ My son, Doug, while a medic in Afghanistan, was wounded in a helicopter crash in 2012.  Doug received a Quilt of Valor and thought it was so wonderful and comforting that he asked me to make one to give back to the QOV Foundation in appreciation.

Loretta went on to tell us that she and her three sisters (all quilters!) EACH made a quilt to donate to the QOV Foundation!  She also advised that Doug continues to do well with his recovery from injuries.  We of the CT Quilters are so glad to have you join our group,  Loretta, and we will be calling those sisters, too!  Just kidding … almost …

We had some more fabric and pillowcase donations to keep our well-oiled assembly line of quilts going.  Thank you to our generous contributors!
 
Bolt after Bolt from Dee and David F
and Maria and Michael M!



And our industrious home busy bees kept up the good work on our behalf this past month.  We had two quilts totally finished come back in:
 


And we had three tops come back, assembled with borders, in our “go to” pattern, The Fourth of July by Bonnie Hunter:
 



And we had one other quilt pattern and one Mystery Quilt top finished.

Gettysburg Mystery Quilt
The mystery was a design called Gettysburg by Nancy L. Miller - offered free on the yahoo group site called Mystery Quilts 4 Military if you join their on-line group.

This meeting the ladies made kits, hand sewed on labels, squared up quilts, sewed on bindings, cut blocks, cut backings, sewed blocks, sewed quilt rows and ironed (whew! – that was a little something of everything):
 





Our special thank you this month goes to Pat, for bring in those darling patriotic mini-cupcakes!

Next month, in addition to our regular activities, we will have
 another special demonstration featuring the Jelly Roll !! 

Mark your calendars now to plan to attend:
June’s meeting will be
Friday, June 21st, from 10 – 2:00

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Armed Forces Day


The first Armed Forces Day was celebrated in May, 1950, after unification of the various military services under the Dept of Defense.  The theme of that event was “Teamed for Defense” – meant to increase the public’s awareness of the role of the military.  It was also a day for the military to show its talents and equipment to the civilian population it protects.

The theme for Armed Forces Day in 2013 is “Strong and Resilient – Prepared to Meet Any Challenge”.   So today we honor and acknowledge the people of the Armed Forces of the United States and the many jobs they perform for our national security and defense.  May God Bless the wonderful men and women who often put their lives on the line and serve our Nation.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Meeting Reminder – Friday, May 17th

We will be meeting Friday, May 17th,
from 10:00 – 2:00
Click on this link to learn more.

Bring your lunch or a snack
(or there are some local restaurants)

Everyone is very welcome to join us.
We love to add new members or you can just drop by
to learn more about the Quilts of Valor mission.

We try to assist the Foundation to cover all combat service
 members who have been touched by war with comforting and healing quilts.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Mother’s Day - Honoring Women Who Served

We have several members within the CT Quilters Quilts of Valor Group with close ties to the military or wartime service.  And some of our members are also Veterans themselves.  We thought it would be fitting on this day that is designated to honor women and mothers that we let you know of some of the accomplishments of these remarkable women.


First we offer a brief introduction to Barb L, owner of the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop.  Barb is an US Air Force Veteran and was stationed in both Denver, CO (where she learned to ski !!) and Sacramento, CA (where she honed her technical skills).  She was once sent on a temporary assignment north of the Arctic Circle (BRRR!).  Of course, we aren’t privy to why she went there, but suffice to say that the polar bears all know Barb …  just kidding, Barb – don’t send the bears after us!!
 

Barb offered her shop as an Under Our Wings location with the Quilts of Valor Foundation and volunteered to do QOV longarm quilting for the group.  The CT Quilters meet there once a month and are very grateful for the contributions Barb makes to our group’s efforts.
Our second introduction is to Linda F, one of our own CT Quilters and a Veteran of the US Navy.   Linda was an air traffic controllman and served as part of the flight crew on C-118 and C-131 where she met her husband on her check ride for qualifying as an air crewman.   Linda earned her wings in July 1968.  Way to go, Linda!
 

The women in Linda’s family have a proud tradition of service.  Both Linda’s daughter, Allison, and her mother-in-law Beatrice, are Navy Veterans.  Allison is a disabled Navy Veteran, having served in 1993.  And Beatrice served as a Photographers Mate during WWII.  There is plenty more to tell about Linda’s family tree-of-service, but that will have to wait until Father’s Day!
Next up are our own CT Quilters, Suzanne and Diana.  Suzanne’s mother served as a military nurse (what a caring profession if there ever was one…) and Diana’s mother was a genuine Rosie the Riveter, representing women who worked in factories to further the war effort in WWII (how cool is that?).
 
Norman Rockwell's Saturday
Evening Post Cover of Rosie
And last, but not least, our leader of the CT Quilters, Pat N, wrote this touching tribute to her mother, Essie, a US Army Veteran.


A Mothers Day Remembrance
by Pat N

My mother PFC Essie J from Tabor City, NC enlisted in the Army of the United States in 1944.  She was always an adventurous soul and decided to leave family in NC and head to Detroit where she began a career in Sales but soon heeded the call of the Military.  Like her there were about 150,000 other women who served in the WAAC and WAC.  These women were counted above those who served as nurses.  It has been said that General Mac Arthur felt that the WAC’s contributions in efficiency, skill, spirit and determination were immeasurable to the war effort.

My Mother served in the American Theater of Operation at Selfridge Field in Michigan.  Selfridge began operations in 1917 as a training base.  It was named for Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge the Nation’s first military pilot.  While my mother served there it was designated as a WW II Army Airfield of the First Air Force.

Upon her discharge in 1946 she received the American Theatre of Operation WW II Victory Medal, which was created on November 6, 1942 by Executive Order of the President to recognize those service members who performed duties stateside.  The medal was awarded to all military personnel for service between 12/7/41 and 12/31/46.  She also received the ASC Score (2Sept45) 11 Lapel button which was (made of brass) of an Eagle with outstretched wings.  It was meant to be worn by an ex-solider pleased to be a civilian again.

My Mother settled in Detroit where she met my Father (a WW II veteran Air Traffic Controller who served in India and Burma) at a U.S.O. Club.  They raised two children.  My brother was a 25-year veteran of the Air Force.  My Mother spent her life in trying new things from being an Interior Designer in Michigan to working for Walt Disney and then managing a large department store in California to moving with her family to Florida in the 1960’s for fun and sun.  She settled in South Florida and began a career in Clothing and Accessories having her own clothing line, her accessories sold in gift shops including “The Outrigger” in Jensen Beach to changing to bridal dresses and accessories in Fort Lauderdale.

She passed away in 1998 and resides in Bushnell VA Cemetery in close proximity to her son. 
Mom (upper right) with unit friends

We applaud all of the women who chose to serve and recognize that they often made sacrifices to do so.  We send our heartfelt “Thank You” on this special day of celebration.
 
Quote of the Day:
We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.
Cynthia Ozick, American Essayist

Friday, May 10, 2013

Notice: May Meeting Date - Friday, May 17th


We will be returning to business as usual at this month’s meeting for Quilts of Valor.   After our cutting blitz from last month, we have lots of fabrics cut into squares of various sizes and prepared bindings and borders.  Now our task is to kit these up, continue cutting the remainder or attach borders and binding to the quilts and tops being returned (and maybe lay out a quilt top or two). 

Bring your cutting mats and favorite rotary cutting tool or sewing machine to this meeting.  You will have your choice of favorite projects to work on!

We are always welcoming new members, so stop by to see what Quilts of Valor is all about or stay to help with the projects if you have time.

We will meet as usual at the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop on Racetrack Rd on Friday, May 17th from 10:00 – 2:00.  Everyone is invited – no sewing skills required.

We want to give back something to you who has given so much with honor.
The veterans of our military services have put their lives
 on the line to protect the freedoms that we enjoy.
 They have dedicated their lives to their country
 and deserve to be recognized for their commitment.
 Judd Gregg (US Senator – NH)

The inspiration quilt of the day is by Jan in Ocala, FL, made for a quilt shop sample –
it uses Norcott’s Stonehenge Stars and Stripes Flight of the Eagle panel:

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Quilting Inspiration Day

From the American Valor Fabric
Collection by Andover Fabrics
I know you’ve been wanting to make one of the Quilts of Valor at home to donate and just didn’t know where to start.  Well, today is the little known Quilting Inspiration Day where we bring you a fabulous idea to jump start those old sewing cravings!  You’ll want to make this one, for sure.

There is a pattern offered free on the Web by Andover Fabrics that is called “American Valor” and it even has the pillowcase presentation package instructions included. 
 

It is featured on the Andover site using the American Valor fabric collection by Jo Morton, but it would also look great in planned scrappy fabrics.  The quilt was designed by Gail Kessler.  Here is a link to the pattern:

Happy Quilting!