I thought you’d like to
know a little bit about the people who “grease the wheels” behind the scenes
for the Quilts of Valor Foundation.
These volunteers are the lifeblood of the group and provide invaluable
assistance to QOV groups in their Regions. The profile we feature this post is of Betsy Morris, a Region 8 Coordinator.
Region 8 covers AL, FL, GA, NC, SC and TN.
My name is Betsy Morris. I
am honored to be the Regional Coordinator for North
Florida. I live in the very
center of the state, in a very small, rural community called Clay Sink, which
was pioneered and settled by my father’s family in the mid 1800’s. Our
“hometown” was Dade City, about 35 miles north of Tampa, where we shopped and attended school.
My paternal
grandmother was a quilter and I am blessed to have one of her quilts. My mother, who is still with us at 97, is a
sewer, not so much a quilter, but a wonderful sewer and loves to piece the
quilt tops. She made our clothes when we
were small and as she got older began making quilts for all the family I have
always had a love for textiles and for quilts. I do sew and quilt, however, my quilts would
probably be judged as folk art rather than fine art. It is the process that is as comforting as the
end product, for me.
I am a realtor by
profession, a part owner of our company, and these days are both very exciting
and trying at times in this arena. I
came across the Quilts of Valor program when it aired on the local PBS station
and it really spoke to me. Couldn’t get
it out of my mind. I sent an email asking how to get involved, and here I
am. Quilts of Valor program has
impressed me in many ways, but, I think most in that there are so many hands,
from beginning to end, from so many different parts of the country, who come
together, some never having known each other before, to create a beautiful
quilt to send to a soldier they never met. What a generous spirit. I am preparing to make my first presentation
on Veteran’s Day. I can’t think of
anything more appropriate.
In my personal life,
I am wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, niece, closely involved with
a huge family. My husband and children are so impressed with the Quilts
of Valor Foundation and think it is a wonderful way to show appreciation to our
soldiers. How could I not participate in
such an honorable tribute to the men and women who make this life possible for
us? Our families have been touched by
wars over the years, as have many. We
have been blessed to have soldiers return home safely from wars, some bearing
scars, both visible and unseen, some with medals of valor that we never knew
about, and, we’ve lost some in battles, never to return. Sadly, our family is not unique in that
service or sacrifice. Quilts of Valor
gives us the opportunity, in whatever venue, to share our love and support, not
only for the soldier but for our country.
