A Very Special QOV Award Opportunity

One of the members of the  CT Quilters Quilts of Valor Group, Linda F., and her husband, Richard, were able to take an awesome cruise recently in the Western Caribbean.   This landmark cruise was the first-ever event sponsored by Princess Cruise Lines to support US Veterans and to feature special military guests and speakers.  According to Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Founder and President Jan C. Scruggs, “ It [the cruise] was designed to honor the service of the members of our military and their families who sacrifice daily to secure the freedoms we all enjoy.”

Princess Cruise Lines is a Commemorative Partner with the USA Vietnam War Commemoration, a national program conducted under the leadership of the Department of Defense to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.  This Princess Cruise sailing raised funds for two respected veterans’ organizations - Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Inc. and Operation Homefront Inc.  The voyage was expected to generate $1 million for the two charities.

Special guests included former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen (Ret.); retired senior officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force (former Army Chief of Staff General George Casey (Ret.), former Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz (Ret.), and former Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead (Ret.), who each hosted military branch gatherings throughout the voyage); award-winning war correspondent, Joe Galloway; and other respected speakers, authors and panelists.

  

Alan Buckelew

Linda F. (who is also a QOVF Regional Rep in addition to being a CT Quilter), was able to take this unique opportunity to award a wonderfully made Quilt of Valor to Princess President and CEO, Alan Buckelew, a  veteran himself, who was on board to host the cruise.  Buckelew served in the US Army in Vietnam from June 1969 to June 1970, as part of a recon platoon called Fox Force.  In 2009, Buckelew was able to return to Vietnam, this time as a tourist.  Read more about his service and that remarkable visit at this link.
 

Alan and his wife at the presentation

Linda awarded the Quilt of Valor to Buckelew at the Champagne Dinner on the Veteran’s Cruise.  This beautiful quilt was designed, pieced and bound by Linda.  Her fellow CT Quilter, Kathy T., did the quilting.

Thank You, Alan Buckelew, for your service to our Country!

We Remember

Today, 72 years later, we salute those veterans who served at Pearl Harbor on December 7^th, 1941.  As we recall the “day which will live in infamy”, we pause to have a moment of remembrance for those that gave their lives, for those that survived and for those that followed after in service to our Nation.

 

A Navy launch pulls up to the USS West Virginia to rescue sailors (US Navy/AP)

The Freedom Bell in Washington, DC – cast in bronze with metal from the World Trade Center – rang today in honor of those who served in the armed forces.  Skydivers also unfurled American flags over Pearl Harbor.

 

Pearl Harbor Memorial

A heartfelt thank-you from a grateful people is not enough for those that continue to maintain our freedoms and ideals.  We will continue to support these brave men and women and let them know that we care.

Did You Know?

The capstone of the Washington Monument was set on this date in 1884, making it the tallest building in the world at that time.  It remains both the world’s tallest stone structure and the tallest obelisk to this day.  Taller monumental structures exist, but they are either not all stone or not true obelisks.

The monument, built as a tribute to General George Washington’s military leadership from 1775-1783 during the American Revolution, is an obelisk standing 555 feet 5-1/8 inches tall.  Its walls range in thickness from 15’ at the base to 18” at the upper shaft.  It was built of marble (primarily from Maryland with some from Massachusetts).  It is underlain by Maryland blue gneiss and Maine granite.  The casual viewer can detect a color change in the marble at about the 150’ level near where construction slowed in 1854.

In 1833, the Washington National Monument Society was formed - spearheaded by John Marshall and James Madison among others.  The cornerstone was laid in an elaborate Fourth of July ceremony in 1848.  Despite the almost unanimous respect afforded to George Washington (who died in 1799), the original construction was not without its problems, hence two major phases of its construction (1848-56 and 1876-84).  Similar to issues commonly encountered today, the project ran into lack of funding, political turmoil and uncertainty about the survival of the American Union.   The US Army Corps of Engineers of the War Dept was charged with completing construction and the monument was dedicated in 1885 and officially opened to the public in 1888.

 

During construction - circa 1860

After its opening, the public could climb flights of 896 steps (which surround an elevator) to reach an observation level and marvel at a panoramic view of the city of Washington from pyramidion windows.  They also view 193 memorial stones presented by individuals, societies, cities, States and nations of the world.

 

The Washington Monument underwent a restoration beginning in 1996 that included sealing exterior and interior stone cracks, pointing exterior joints, cleaning  and patching.  That project was completed in 2000.

Then in 2011, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck.  With an epicenter in the Piedmont area of Virginia, it impacted the entire Washington, DC area plus more than a dozen US states and several Canadian Provinces.   The Washington Monument was closed immediately after US National Park Service investigators discovered a crack near the top of the structure, a dislodged block in the pyramidion, and pieces of stone, stone chips, mortar and paint chips littering the interior stairs and observation deck.  The elevator system was also damaged and repaired.  The monument is currently surrounded by scaffolding once again and undergoing repairs.  Completion of the repairs are expected to take until some time in 2014.  The current scaffolding includes lighting that holds visitors entranced until such time as, once again, over 800,000 people a year may visit this truly historic and beloved National Monument.

And can you guess which structure knocked the Washington Monument off the tallest building list?  Yep, good guess.  It was indeed the Eiffel Tower - when its construction was competed in Paris, France in 1889!

Honoring a Vietnam Veteran

We were blessed to be able to award a very special Quilt of Valor Friday, Nov 29th to the husband of one of own CT Quilters.  Ginger has been a driving force behind our QOV group and we consider her husband Roger an auxiliary member because he supports and encourages her QOV activities.  Word is that he has given up his dining room table on occasion when Ginger is laying out a quilt top!

 

Roger (left) with CT Quilters Barb, Linda, Maria, Ginger (Roger's wife) and Kathy

Roger is a Vietnam veteran, having served in-country on the Cambodia/Laos border, sometimes with a flame thrower and sometimes assisting with spraying Agent Orange, both extremely dangerous duties.  While Agent Orange was thought to be a good thing for deforestation at the time, we now know what ravages it can cause.  Roger is now being treated by the wonderful medical personnel at the Bay Pines VA Hospital.  These are the caring people that understand and respect the service of our Veterans.  Roger was in good spirits and was very honored to receive a Quilt of Valor from the group that his wife supports.

 

Roger with two CT Quilters that are veterans (Barb, USAF and Linda, USN)

Roger is originally from Ohio and served his time in boot camp at Ft Benning, GA.  After his 1967-1968 tour in Vietnam, he was at Ft McClellan, AL assisting with training for the 101^st Airborne.  He had a lot of stories that held us spellbound, including his visits to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, sometimes called “The Wall That Heals”.

 

The Wall, aerial view

He and Ginger recall the reverence with which visitors approach the wall seeking names of friends and relatives, often leaving small memorials and taking etchings of names.  This highly polished black granite structure designed by Maya Lin, is unbelievably long with individual names of those 58,000 who died in the conflict.  The two ends of the Wall point to the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.   Many come together to mourn there, but they come also to honor those who survived.

 

The Wall with family memorials; Washington Monument in the background

Roger also told us a wonderful story about a fairly recent visit that he and Ginger had taken to the Mt Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills region of South Dakota.  He spoke of the glorious evening lighting ceremony put on by the National Park Service and how they invited all veterans in the crowd to come to the front and be recognized and publicly thanked.  How inspiring for us all!

 

Mt Rushmore in the evening

Roger also told us about his Vietnam Honor Beads that are a prized possession and when you hear this story, you’ll know why.

 

Vietnam Honor Beads

These items are a tangible ritual developed by Vietnam veterans to honor each other.  These beads are in the colors of the Vietnam Service Ribbon (yellow, green and red).   Every step in the design and construction of these beads is performed only by Vietnam War vets and only a Vietnam War veteran can award them to another.  These are the men and women who served with honor when called and stood by each other in a time of great turmoil.  Many Vietnam vets say it is the only time they have been thanked for their service.  It is not too late to welcome a Vietnam War veteran home.

One last note from Ginger that I received today:

“Your visit and the presentation of a QOV meant a great deal to us.  Roger and I talked about his day this evening.  He felt honored to have a QOV.  He had tears in his eyes when we were talking.  He has told everyone about the experience.  [Roger said] …’The QOV ladies are a very special group.  Thank you for your work for the Veterans’.

[Ginger] …And I also want to thank you for your visit and the quilt.  He has it over him now.”

Roger, we so very much appreciate your service to the Nation.  We have a great deal of respect and honor for you and your fellow veterans.  Thank you so much for allowing us to visit and present you with a healing and comforting Quilt of Valor.

Happy Thanksgiving

National Military Family Appreciation Month

As we are looking forward to the annual Thanksgiving Holiday, let us also remember that each year, the month of November is declared as National Military Family Appreciation Month by Presidential proclamation.

We are wise to remember the words of President Barack Obama  when he signed the annual Proclamation in 2011, saying [in part]:

“… Just as our troops embody the courage and character that make America’s military the finest in the world, their family members embody the resilience and generosity that make our communities strong.  They serve with heroism in their homes and neighborhoods while they are without the comfort of having loved ones nearby.  Day after day, week after week, spouses resolutely accomplish the work of two parents, sons and daughters diligently keep up with homework and activities, and parents and grandparents patiently wait for news of their child and grandchild’s safe return.  To these families, and to those whose service members never come home, we bear a debt that can never be fully repaid. …”

Inspiration comes in many forms, from military service personnel to first responders to teachers, so let us recognize this month the families of those who serve and give them the support that they deserve.

Recap of 11-15-13 Meeting

Let me tell you – our Quilts of Valor volunteers are just the BEST!  We were really settin’ the pedal to the metal this meeting.  We were so happy to welcome lots of new people and then we really got down to it…

We were cutting borders and blocks for our take-home kits, sewing blocks and hand sewing bindings and labels:

We were assembling kits:

We were sewing bindings onto quilted quilts and later making backings:

We were laying out blocks for tops, including this new design that uses 4-patches from our take-home kits:

We took in lots of fabric donations (a BIG thank you to many donors!! They came in fast but I managed to capture the names of Donna P-W, Debbie W., Gale and Kathy B. for this post):

We had some great quilts and quilt tops come in:

 

Debbie (L) with her quilt #1

Debbie (L) with her quilt #2 and Diana peeking out helping to hold!

Pat (L) helping hold Lisa's (R) Curved Log Cabin center - borders will be added to bring it to QOV size and Lisa will be quilting it - it's gorgeous already!

We had lots of pillowcase presentation packages come in:

And we had two wall-hanging size donated to go to a special VA destination (more on that later:

 

Pat (L) and Renita (R) holding the wallhanging top that Renita's friend Kathy donated

The second wallhanging-size donated by Kathy that will be finished by Pat

And the quilts, already matched up and in their pillowcase presentation packages, are stacking up and getting ready to go to their forever homes:

We were also able to meet another volunteer longarm quilter and her husband – who drove a considerable distance to get to us today.  Pat B. has been quilting for Quilts of Valor for some time and the CT Quilters are thrilled to begin an association with her.  We also received back another quilt back in from another volunteer longarmer, Virginia, but I'm sorry I didn't get a photo to post.  It has been sent home to be hand bound by another volunteer.  We want to thank our longarm coordinator, Sharon, for keeping track and making contacts for us.  We now have lots of quilts in the pipeline – we like to keep our longarmers busy!

Thank you so very much – both to the ladies that were able to attend our meeting and to our many, many volunteers who pick up our kits at the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop and bring us back sewn blocks.  YOU are what makes it all happen!

We’re looking forward to next month – we will have a regular working session in the morning and then break for a Potluck Lunch at the shop.  Put Friday, Dec 20^th on your calendars now since this busy season tends to book up quickly – you won’t want to miss this next meeting!

Meeting Reminder - Friday, Nov 15th

Our Quilts of Valor Group will be meeting

Friday, Nov 15^th,

From 10:00 – 2:00

At the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop ...

Click on this link to learn more!

Veterans Day

While Veterans Day is primarily a tribute to America’s living Veterans, and is typically observed more as a celebration than as a somber remembrance such as on Memorial Day, it is always appropriate to include a moment of respect for those who gave their lives for our country.  The signing of the World War I Armistice took place in a railway coach near the battle zone in France.  The bugles sounded cease fire and the hostilities ended, marking a most significant moment in world history.  Although 11:00 a.m. remains a traditional hour for this type of tribute, a moment of silence is appropriate at any point in the day today.

We salute our Troops and thank our Veterans.

November Meeting Notice

November Meeting Date - Friday, November 15^th

You are especially invited to attend our Quilts of Valor meeting.

We meet once a month at the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop

12330 Racetrack Rd, Tampa

From 10:00 – 2:00

You do not need to sign up to attend!

No sewing skills are required –

But you can bring your rotary cutter/mat,

or hand sewing sewing needles and thread (red/white/blue)

 or even bring your machine if you like to sew. 

There will be lots of projects available to work on.

November Meeting Date - Friday, November 15^th

http://craftythreads.com/

http://www.qovf.org/

Quilt of Valor Awarded

All Quilts of Valor are special, but this particular quilt was special not only to the recipient, it was awarded by a very special friend of the recipient.  Linda Fentriss, a member of the CT Quilters QOV Group, was recently named as a FL Regional Coordinator by the Quilts of Valor Foundation.  She made and quilted this quilt for her friend and fellow veteran, Marc M.

 

Linda (L) and Marc (R) with the QOV

Here’s Marc’s story of her military service and travels to various duty assignments:

I was in one of the last units to go through Ft McClellan, AL as an all female WAC (Women’s Army Corps) unit before its flag was retired.  It struck me later that the school was founded on my birthday, but I am much younger, of course – LOL!

[Editorial:  The Women's Army Corps School was founded at Fort McClellan on September 25, 1952. Approximately two years later, official ceremonies were conducted to establish the post as the first permanent home of the U.S. Women's Army Corps Center. Fort McClellan remained its home until the Corps was disestablished and its flag retired in 1977. Participating in the final ceremony was Major General Mary E. Clarke, the last director of the Women's Army Corps and destined to later become the Commanding General of Fort McClellan, the first female officer ever to command a major Army installation.]

My first duty assignment was at Ft Huachuca, AZ.   Ft Huachuca was a well kept secret back then.  It was a small, beautiful post at the bottom of the Huachuca Mountains.  I killed trees during this duty assignment as a clerk for the Intelligence Center.

One year later, I received orders to Germany.  I left beautiful Ft Huachuca kicking and screaming, but then spent 11 years working in Heidelberg, again at an Intelligence Center.  I grew inordinately fond of Heidelberg and on receiving orders to leave to return to the USA, I was again kicking and screaming.  I was stationed in Ft Hamilton, NY with the 315^th Medical Bn.  Later I was sent to St Louis to work in the US Army Personnel Center.

My “dream sheet” requested Alaska as my final duty assignment so, of course, the Army sent me to Miami, FL.  I reported to the 324^th Combat Support Hospital one month before Hurricane Andrew took the roof off the house I was living in and the roof off of our brand new center that had yet to be dedicated.   Two years later, I retired from the Service.

Linda was very pleased to award a Quilt of Valor to her friend, Marc. 

And Marc, we send a sincere “Thank You” to you

 for your service to our Country!

New FL QOV Coordinator

Meet Linda Fentriss, Florida State Coordinator

I live in Tampa, Florida with my husband Richard and our dog Tillie.  My husband and I met when we were stationed at NAF Andrews Air Force Base.  I was an Air Traffic Controllman and he was an Aviation Electronics Technician.  I got out of the Navy and he made it a career and retired after 21 years of service.  I had been a teacher, an administrative assistant, computer programmer and adjunct mathematics professor before retiring this year.  Now I am a quilter.

My sister-in-law convinced me to learn how to quilt.  I wanted to do something with the quilts and looked on line to see what charitable organizations needed quilts.  I found the QOV site and contacted our local quilt store, Crafty Threads, and asked what did I need to do.  When they said just show up and help, I knew I found a winner.  I have made many quilts from start to finish and am teaching myself how to longarm quilt.

With our QOV group I do a little of everything.  I have only been a member for one year but have cut, pieced and quilted a QOV from start to finish.  Being involved with the military for all of my adult life, I feel like I need to give back to those who protect my freedom.  When I read in the newsletter that QOV needed help, I  volunteered to do longarm quilting; then I volunteered to be the Florida Coordinator.  I look forward to supporting QOV as I believe every service person past and present deserves a quilt of valor.

You can contact me by e-mail at Linda.Fentriss@qovf.org.  I look forward to hearing and working with you.

Source:  http://www.qovf.org/content/region-8-fl-l-fentriss.html