Quilts on a Road Trip

Some very special Quilts of Valor took a road trip on Apr 22^nd to the Poly-Trauma Unit of the James A Haley Veteran's Hospital here in Tampa.

  

James A Haley VA Hospital

Our Quilts of Valor group leader, Pat N., packaged these beauties up in their pillowcase presentation packages and prepared our thank you letters that accompany each quilt.  Don’t they look great all stacked up on Pat’s couch?!

 

Each quilt was made comfortable as they anticipated their assignments – each is to be awarded to some extraordinary wounded warriors at the hospital.  Here they are chatting in the back of Pat’s car (well, Pat swore she heard them muttering “hurry up and get us there”):

 



Once they arrived at Haley, it was hard to hold them down from jumping onto the beds of their heroes – here they are on the cart ready to roll inside:

 

And here is the very lucky “last quilt to make it into this delivery”.  This quilt was pieced by Debbie and quilted and finished by Joanne.  Thank you so much, ladies.  This quilt is finally happy, wrapping its new owner in comfort!

 

Pat let us know that the VA Volunteers were thrilled with the latest delivery of quilts and in awe once again.  What a rewarding group to be a part of – consider joining us at our next Quilts of Valor meeting.  We meet at the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop once a month.  See the sidebar for dates, times and location.  We’d love to have you!

Recap of 04/19/13 Meeting

It’s that Spring Break/Vacation time of year so our Quilts of Valor meeting attendance was a little lighter this month but that didn’t mean that we couldn’t crank out a high volume of work!  We had some guests drop in from out of town and we wanted to mention that it was fun to talk with you.  Hope to have you visit again when you can stay longer … Everyone is welcome to join this fun group.

These fabulous tops and quilts came back in to be distributed or finished:

Jacque brought in this fabulous quilt.  She made it from her own fabric and it has a pillowcase presentation package to match!

 

Check out this detail photo with the beautiful fabrics and the great embroidered label:

 



Two more finishes from our standard 4^th of July pattern:

 

 And look at this modified version of that pattern.  Doesn’t that look too cool?!

 

Borders were added at this meeting

A wonderful Carpenter’s Star quilt top:

 

Thank you, Vanna White (oops, I mean Ginger)
for holding the quilts for the photo op.

The ladies made kits, sewed bindings together and on quilts, and even had a hand sewing tag-team thing going on!:

 

Making kits

Sewing bindings and borders

Sewing bindings onto quilts

Hand sewing bindings

There was the cutting extravaganza:

 

Cutting borders

Cutting borders

Cutting squares for kits

Cutting squares AND ironing -
our ladies are so versatile!

Pat was working on a QOV quilt-as-you-go project:

 

Of course, we took just a few moments for Show and Tell.  Pat had a finished quilt and has been working on seasonal wall hangings/table toppers and Suzanne has a delightful angel in progress:

 

Thank you, Pat and Suzanne, for sharing your treasures with the group.  And a special thank you to Pat, for bring in that delicious cake.  Yummy!  We missed you if you couldn't make it to the meeting - hope to see you next month.

The next quarter’s meeting dates have been established.

Take a look at the sidebar and mark your calendars.

May’s meeting will be:

Friday, May 17^th, from 10 – 2:00.

Meeting Reminder – Friday, April 19th

We will be meeting Friday, Apr 19^th,

from 10:00 – 2:00

at the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop!

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 – come get in on the fun

and learn what the Quilts of Valor mission is all about!

Other QOV Presentations

Ever wonder what some of the other Quilts of Valor groups are doing?  Check out this fabulous presentation made to 17 members of the 270^th ATCS of the Oregon Air National Guard.

 

Read all about it in the blog entry submitted by Cindy Roche, the SW Oregon Regional Coordinator of the Quilts of Valor Foundation.  See the Quilts of Valor Blog at:  http://qovf.blogspot.com/2013/03/oregon-presentation.html

April Meeting Date - Friday, April 19th

This month we will have a "Cutting Extravaganza" at our Quilts of Valor meeting.   We have lots of bundles of fabrics already identified as to their best use and partially prepared to cut into various size squares, bindings and borders.  Come and bring your cutting mats and favorite rotary cutting tool.

We will also need to work on some of our on-going projects, like the following:

§         Taking care of what will be coming back in:

¨       Quilted quilts - these will need to have bindings machine sewn on - then the bindings hand sewn – then the labels hand sewn

¨       Quilt tops – these will need to have backings ironed and sewn so they can be sent off to be quilted

¨       Blocks made from kits – these will need to be sorted into sets for tops

§         Taking care of our stash of block kits:

¨       Making up kits for “A” and B” block kits

So, you say you’ve never been to a Quilts of Valor meeting?  Well, you are very welcome to join us and we’ll supply the tools and show you how to cut, or you can choose another task from one of the above or just join us and see what we are all about.

We will meet as usual at the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop on Racetrack Rd in Tampa on Friday, April 19^th from 10:00 – 2:00.  Everyone is invited – no sewing skills required.

Honoring a Veteran and His Dog ...

Bennett-Collier (L), Rowland (center), Jackson (R) with Kate

Recently, quilters in Lynchburg [VA] honored a veteran and his bomb-sniffing dog, Kate.  Marine Lance Corporal Josh Rowland, 21, served a seven month tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2012 with Kate.  The six year old Labrador retriever has served several tours in Afghanistan and is believed to have canine post-traumatic stress disorder.  It was four months into their last tour that Rowland noticed that Kate was no longer sleeping well and was reluctant to leave his side.  Rowland thinks that the changes in Kate were not brought on by one terrifying experience but possibly from trauma and continuing uncertainty resulting from the sharp sounds and high emotions often found in war zones.

Rowland:

“Once you’re a handler, and you’re with your dog 24/7, you know when there’s something wrong.  Believe it or not, your dog is like a human being to you.  You can read them extremely well.  And she was there before me.  So, technically, that was like a second deployment, back to back [for her].”

Rowland then requested that Kate be retired from duty and he finished out his tour with another canine explosives-sniffing companion.  When he returned Stateside, Rowland began the process of locating Kate and was later able to adopt her.  They were reunited in February 2013.

Jan Bennett-Collier read a news article about Rowland and Kate and was so moved by the story that she and her mother, Anne Jackson, immediately set about making them a quilt.  Bennett-Collier said: “It was the first time I thought about our animal soldiers suffering as much as our human soldiers.  It really touched me.”

Retired Air Force Tech Sgt Clyde Savage made a second quilt and the two were presented to Rowland and Kate during the Patches ‘n Pieces Triennial Quilt Show in March 2013.

Savage, a Vietnam veteran, stated that he understood what it’s like to be separated from the things that you care about during war-time and that he had kept that in mind when crafting Rowland’s quilt.  He used the color yellow in a portion of it to symbolize Rowland’s return to the United States.

Jackson and Bennett-Collier included several “doggy must-haves” in Kate’s quilt – including a large bone and a food bowl with Kate’s name on it.  “I’m a dog-lover,” said Jackson. “They need to be honored in the service, too.  I hope she can put it in her bed and sleep on it.”

Rowland advised that he didn’t think that would be a problem!

Source:  http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/heres-what-i-did-national-quilting-day-t216695.html

Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday

We all remember Thomas Jefferson as the author of the Declaration of Independence and as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.  Although he professed not to be much of a public speaker, he was a very eloquent writer and the Declaration remains one of the Nation’s most cherished symbols of Liberty.

As our third President, Jefferson is also remembered for the Louisiana Purchase that doubled the size of the United States.    

  

Jefferson was born on April 2^nd in 1743.   Don’t be troubled if your calendar says he was born on April 13^th instead.  Both dates are accurate.  One is taken from the Julian calendar (O.S.) that adjusted the beginning of the year to January 1^st and the other is taken from the Gregorian calendar (N.S.).   Some countries did not make the  switch to the Julian calendar until 1752, after Jefferson was born.

Monticello

Jefferson’s home was located on a large plantation in Virginia.  Jefferson designed its most striking feature, the dome, after having traveled in Europe and seeing classical architecture.  Have you always wanted to visit Monticello but still haven’t been able to get there?  Take this interesting 3-D tour of the entire plantation!  http://explorer.monticello.org/

West Point

And did you know that in 1802, with the consent of Congress, Jefferson authorized the construction of the US Military Academy at West Point in NY?  It was the Military Peace Establishment Act that directed that a corp of engineers be established.  That Act was established to provide well-trained officers for a professional army.  It was on July 4^th in 1802 that the US Military Academy formally began as an institution for scientific and military learning.  Coincidentally,  it was also on a July 4^th (in 1826) that Jefferson died at the age of 83.  It was the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Fun Fact:

There has been a persistent, although spurious, rumor that Thos. Jefferson grew marijuana.  He did not.  But he did grown an industrial type of hemp that was used for rope and clothing.  It apparently contains very little of the chemical that makes some do the happy dance.   No, our third President did not smoke the wacky weed!

Thomas Jefferson left us a famous quote – taken from a letter to the Marquis de Lafayette in 1815:

“The cement of this Union [the United States of America] is in the heart-blood of every American.  I do not believe there is on earth a government established on so immovable a basis”.

Awarding Quilts of Valor

The mission of the Air Force Port Mortuary Affairs Operations is to provide dignity, honor and respect for the fallen and to provide care, service and support for their families.  We thank each and every one of these dedicated personnel of the Port Mortuary that render such honor to those who have defended our Country.

Recently, the Quilts of Valor Regional Coordinators for Region 9, Lenny T. and Laurel B., and their bi-monthly sew-a-block-day group were showcased in a video that appeared on the Pentagon Channel and on the website of the United States Air Force Port Mortuary Affairs Operations.

QOVF founder Catherine Roberts began the practice of awarding a QOV to Port Mortuary workers upon completion of their mortuary rotation and the Region 9 coordinators and their groups support that endeavor.  To quote Laurel B.:

            “Most but not all Port Mortuary workers have been deployed and have stood in harms way.  But each has earned their QOV by providing the final honor for their fellow service members.  Their care and devotion in this final act is demanding , exacting, and as stressful as being in harms way.  We have seen first hand the reactions of workers as they are notified of the pending arrival of the fallen and we have also heard from them how much the QOV means. It is our privilege to be able to honor each and every member of the Port Mortuary.”

Here is a link to the video as it appeared on the Pentagon Channel.

http://www.pentagonchannel.mil/Video.aspx?videoid=281699

National Medal of Honor Day

val•or [val-er]  noun
boldness or determination in facing great danger,

especially in battle; heroic courage; bravery: a medal for valor.



Original Navy Medal of Honor (1862)



There is a hierarchy of medals that can be awarded for valor.  At the peak is the National Medal of Honor.  For it to be awarded, the heroic action of the recipient must not only be notable but also “above and beyond the call of duty”.

Dragoon Mts were Cochise hid

Army Assistant Surgeon Bernard J D Irwin was the recipient of the first Medal of Honor issued for a heroic act* after he rescued 60 soldiers of an Army unit at Apache Pass in Arizona.  The infantrymen were trapped by Chiricahua Apaches under Cochise in February of 1861.  Irwin had volunteered to take command of troops and under harsh circumstances (including being attacked and defeating hostile Indians) he recovered stolen horses and cattle, reached the trapped column and helped break the siege to save the soldiers.

            * Other medals were issued prior to this one for distinguishing acts,

             but this was the first for an act of heroism.

 Read about another Medal of Honor recipient, Sgt 1^st Class Paul R. Smith, of Tampa, FL in an article by Deborah Sharp in USA Today.  Here are some paraphrased excerpts:

            During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Paul’s platoon was attacked

 by an overwhelming amount of enemy forces near the Baghdad airport.

  At great personal risk, Paul threw a grenade over a wall

 then jumped atop an armored vehicle and manned a

machine gun.  He was able to fire over 300 rounds, spraying
the attacking troops, stopping their forward progress.

  His actions saved at least 100 men before he was killed by enemy fire.

            Paul’s family was presented with his Medal of Honor

 at a White House ceremony.  Paul was cited for “…conspicuous gallantry …”

 that protected not only his troops, but also those at a nearby aid station.

To learn more about the history of the National Medal of Honor and see the various designs issued over the years by different branches of service, see this link to the National Medal of Honor Museum  of Military History in Chattanooga, TN:

http://www.mohm.org/recipient_pages/moh_recipient_history.html

The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section of this site is particularly interesting.  Check it out at:

http://www.mohm.org/recipient_pages/moh_recipient_faq.html

Remember:

“This nation will remain the land of the free only

 so long as it is the home of the brave. “

Elmer Davis – News reporter, author,
director of US Ofc of War Information in WWII

  

Recap of 03/15/13 Meeting

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OK – they might look a little spooky, but those are the big quilty hugs and kisses to our supporters that gave us  wonderful donations this month.

Our hearts were much gratified during this meeting when we received a large monetary donation to Quilts of Valor from Dee & David Finn of Highlands, NC and a matching donation from Maria and Michael Mattia from FL and NC.

We are sending you all our best hugs and kisses.  We think you will be pleased when you see the fabulous fabrics we will buy with your contributions and the quilts that will go to comfort many soldiers and military personnel touched by war.  You have our heartfelt thank you.

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It was another fun meeting and a little different this time.  We had some fabric donations – aren’t these perfect?!  Keep ‘em coming – you all have excellent taste in patriotic fabrics …

Then we received a few tops and quilts that volunteers had finished at home:

Debbie - American Top

American rows detail

Debbie - Nine Patches of Valor

Quilt made by Debbie - Finished by Suzanne

The tops were whisked off to the quilters and the quilts were quickly labeled (no grass growing under our feet here ...):



Hand sewing on labels

We completed some of our regular work, including preparing backings, sewing on bindings, making kits, cutting blocks, etc:

Matching pillowcase presentation packages
 with quilts and counting blocks for tops

Sewing bindings and borders

Making kits for volunteer sewing at home

Hand sewing and sewing bindings

Cutting fabric for kits

And it was time for lunch and a special demonstration from our Leader, Pat N., on a quick and easy Quilt-As-You-Go technique.  This QAYG process is suitable not only for making Quilts of Valor, but also for making everything from that “gotta make it quick” kid’s or baby gifts to table runners or table toppers.  Pat was well prepared with her serger and demo board that made learning the process easy for both the visual and tactile learners among us!

Pat (R) begins her presentation

Pat (R) giving details and Maria (L) with hands on



Pat's demo board with examples

Several wanted to try their hand at the serger:

We all were discussing our favorite techniques:

And even Elizabeth from the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop (where we meet) came in to see what was up.  Elizabeth is the Queen of the Serger Club, also held there, and she had a few hints for us on how to care for and use your serger.  Thank you, Elizabeth!

And last – we had a Show and Tell.  Pat received a quilt that was hand appliquéd and hand quilted, but not quite completed before its owner passed away.  She is in the process of completing it for the family and let us see this fabulous work of art.  Just a little inspiration for all of you quilters out there that don’t have enough on your Bucket List already!

What a beauty!

Block Detail

 Next meeting:

Friday, April 19^th, from 10 – 2:00

Hope to see YOU there!