“Like a mother's loving arms, this quilt is our hug for our hero—a gift of thanks for protecting America. It expresses our gratitude, love, respect, and honor to forever hold and comfort you."
This is the greeting sewn on the back of the quilt that Staff Sergeant Logan Ballew received upon arriving at the Bethesda Military Hospital in August of 2006.
Disarming a roadside bomb in Iraq, Logan received the impact of the bomb when it exploded. The local military hospital personnel feared Logan might die. They waited three days to notify Logan’s parents, not knowing whether they would be sending him back home in a body bag or to a hospital.
Logan arrived two days later in Bethesda where a quilt made by a Quilts of Valor volunteer welcomed him. Arnold and Joan Ballew flew from Edmond, Oklahoma to Bethesda to keep bedside vigil.
Marine Mom Joan had made many quilts through Quilts for Injured Soldiers. “We created these quilts as ‘Hugs for Our Heroes’ to give them hope and peace for their road ahead. A little piece of me goes out with each quilt I make,” Joan explained. Joan’s reward for her many hours of volunteer work comes from the Thank Yous received from wounded soldiers like this one: “When I get scared with the memories of war, I curl up in my quilt and the nightmares go away. It makes me proud to be a soldier, knowing Americans really care. There’s so much love and a prayer in every stitch.”
One of the first questions Joan asked Logan was if he had received a quilt. When Joan asked what he thought of the gift, Logan expressed how humbled, honored, and encouraged he felt to receive such a treasure. “ It was a source of strength and comfort that lifted my spirits and warmed my heart. I knew my service was appreciated and not in vain.”
Joan excitedly unfolded Logan’s bright quilt and caressed the stitches of comfort some volunteer quilter had lovingly taken. When Joan emailed the quilt guild to thank them, she instantly bonded with the woman who made Logan’s quilt. “She became my new buddy when I most needed a friend to share my feelings of loneliness and fear while sitting at my son’s bedside.”
After fourteen months of painful physical therapy, progressing from wheel chair to walker to cane, Logan now walks with a slight limp with the help of a concealed leg brace. Permanent nerve damage in his leg shattered Logan’s career dreams of spending his life in the Marines. When he gets discouraged, Logan finds comfort and hope for his future by snuggling up in his quilted hug. Logan is now adjusting well to civilian life with his part-time job in cabinetry in Norman, Oklahoma.
Joan’s 22” portrait quilt of her marine son using the zipper, fabric and buttons from his uniform, won a blue ribbon in Buckboard Quilts' God Bless America Quilt Exhibit which is touring the U.S. for four years with all profits going to provide more of these healing quilts for soldiers. ###
As the nation celebrated Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veteran’s Day with bands and parades, modern day Betsy Rosses were busy creating quilts for wounded troops. Quilts of Valor has awarded over 16,000 quilts stitched with love and gratitude to soldiers at the Walter Reed and seventy other Hospitals. See www.QOVF.org for details and to find a chapter near you.
All profits from the God Bless America Quilt Exhibits and book "Thanking Our Troops—God Bless America Touring Quilts" go to groups like Quilts of Valor, Home of the Brave Quilt Project, Marine Quilts, Operation Kid Comfort, and local guilds and churches that provide quilts for wounded troops and families of the fallen. Judy Howard is challenging children and adults to express their patriotism by creating 22” quilts for the exhibits that are touring the U.S. for four years. “With your help, we can blanket America with love of God and Country to help mend our torn nation and thank our troops,” Judy said.
These 22” quilts honor our American Heroes and Troops, depicting “Liberty and Justice for All” and expressing flag-waving loyalty to our “One Nation Under God.”
It’s not too late to enter. Mail to 12101 N. MacArthur, #137, Oklahoma City, OK 73162. Rent these patriotic quilts for $100/week-end for your next quilt show or patriotic event today by emailing BuckboardQuilts@cox.net. See www.HeavenlyPatchwork.com for quilt photos, entry and rental forms, sample stories and to order books at the publisher's discount of $14.95.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Quilt Artists Cheer Troops in Baghdad
Quilt Artists Cheer Troops in Baghdad for Thanksgiving
Thousands of troops passing daily through Camp Striker Stables in Baghdad, Iraq will be cheered this Thanksgiving and Christmas by the thirty-three quilts shipped November 14th to thank them for their service.
These quilts are part of the 218 quilts made by children and adults across America that are touring the US for four years with all profits from the books and $100 exhibit rental fees (free to military and veteran groups) going to non-profit groups who make quilts for wounded troops and the families of the fallen. Thanking Our Troop—God Bless America Touring Quilts contains the heart-warming stories and photos of these patriotic 22” and larger quilts.
This quilted tribute to the troops boosted their morale and their spirits last December through February when they were forced to spend Christmas thousands of miles from home. “The soldiers spent hours admiring the quilts and reading the stories that thanked them for their service,” Larry (Gunny) Sizemore, Supervisor of the largest “ hotel” in the world said. As they stood talking, many soldiers shared their own foxhole tales, or the heroic acts of fathers and grandfathers in previous wars. Several soldiers shed tears as the quilts evoked memories of home, family and fellow comrades killed in action.
Major Mick Kerr, Camp Striker Mayor said, ”Looking at the quilts, it’s evident that ‘freedom is not free,’ but no sacrifice is too enormous to keep our nation free. Thanks for bringing a little touch of home to us.”
SFC James Hine, Ashland, Kentucky, commented: “Coming from the hills of Kentucky where Grandma’s quilts meant comfort and love, a quote came to mind: ‘The love in your heart was not put there to stay, love is not love until you give it away.’ Your quilts are just that—from your heart to ours. Thank you for caring.”
When Gunny returned the God Bless America Quilt Exhibit to author Judy Howard, he included a surprise—a United States flag that was flown in her honor over Camp Striker in Baghdad February 12, 2009. “I’ve never felt so humbled,” Judy said. “Tears streamed as I touched the precious flag that had flown over Baghdad, flown over the face of the enemy.”
These quilts will return each year to Baghdad to cheer troops during the holidays. Yours could be one of them. See photos, sample stories, book ordering information, entry and rentals forms and calendar of exhibits on www.HeavenlyPatchwork.com. You can support this worthwhile project by entering your 22” quilt and ordering books for Christmas gifts. With your help, we can blanket America with love of God and country and hugs for our heroes (healing quilted comforters).
Thousands of troops passing daily through Camp Striker Stables in Baghdad, Iraq will be cheered this Thanksgiving and Christmas by the thirty-three quilts shipped November 14th to thank them for their service.
These quilts are part of the 218 quilts made by children and adults across America that are touring the US for four years with all profits from the books and $100 exhibit rental fees (free to military and veteran groups) going to non-profit groups who make quilts for wounded troops and the families of the fallen. Thanking Our Troop—God Bless America Touring Quilts contains the heart-warming stories and photos of these patriotic 22” and larger quilts.
This quilted tribute to the troops boosted their morale and their spirits last December through February when they were forced to spend Christmas thousands of miles from home. “The soldiers spent hours admiring the quilts and reading the stories that thanked them for their service,” Larry (Gunny) Sizemore, Supervisor of the largest “ hotel” in the world said. As they stood talking, many soldiers shared their own foxhole tales, or the heroic acts of fathers and grandfathers in previous wars. Several soldiers shed tears as the quilts evoked memories of home, family and fellow comrades killed in action.
Major Mick Kerr, Camp Striker Mayor said, ”Looking at the quilts, it’s evident that ‘freedom is not free,’ but no sacrifice is too enormous to keep our nation free. Thanks for bringing a little touch of home to us.”
SFC James Hine, Ashland, Kentucky, commented: “Coming from the hills of Kentucky where Grandma’s quilts meant comfort and love, a quote came to mind: ‘The love in your heart was not put there to stay, love is not love until you give it away.’ Your quilts are just that—from your heart to ours. Thank you for caring.”
When Gunny returned the God Bless America Quilt Exhibit to author Judy Howard, he included a surprise—a United States flag that was flown in her honor over Camp Striker in Baghdad February 12, 2009. “I’ve never felt so humbled,” Judy said. “Tears streamed as I touched the precious flag that had flown over Baghdad, flown over the face of the enemy.”
These quilts will return each year to Baghdad to cheer troops during the holidays. Yours could be one of them. See photos, sample stories, book ordering information, entry and rentals forms and calendar of exhibits on www.HeavenlyPatchwork.com. You can support this worthwhile project by entering your 22” quilt and ordering books for Christmas gifts. With your help, we can blanket America with love of God and country and hugs for our heroes (healing quilted comforters).
Thanking Our Troops--God Bless America Touring Quilts
Modern Day Betsy Rosses Help Heal Wounded Troops
“How do I love America? Let me quilt the ways” is the theme of Buckboard Quilts’ “God Bless America” 22x22”Quilt Contest for children and adults.
These pictorial or traditional quilts capture the essence of “America the Beautiful” by paying tribute to our American Heroes, Troops, Presidents and depicting “Liberty and Justice for All,” or expressing flag-waving loyalty to our “One Nation Under God.”
All profits from the $100/week-end rental fee go to provide quilts for wounded troops and families of the fallen— those most in need of the touch of love that quilts represent.
Please enter your 22” quilt and mail it to 12101 N. MacArthur, #137, Oklahoma City, OK 73162 ASAP Reserve an exhibit for your quilt show, church, library, school or civic event today by emailing BuckboardQuilts@cox.net
"Thanking Our Troops—God Bless America Touring Quilts" book contains the heart-warming stories of these 220 patriotic quilts that are touring the nation for four years.
See www.HeavenlyPatchwork.com for quilt photos, entry and rental forms sample stories and to order your books for gifts. They appeal to all military families, patriots, quilters and quilt-lovers alike and are available at a special publisher’s discounted price of $14.95.
“How do I love America? Let me quilt the ways” is the theme of Buckboard Quilts’ “God Bless America” 22x22”Quilt Contest for children and adults.
These pictorial or traditional quilts capture the essence of “America the Beautiful” by paying tribute to our American Heroes, Troops, Presidents and depicting “Liberty and Justice for All,” or expressing flag-waving loyalty to our “One Nation Under God.”
All profits from the $100/week-end rental fee go to provide quilts for wounded troops and families of the fallen— those most in need of the touch of love that quilts represent.
Please enter your 22” quilt and mail it to 12101 N. MacArthur, #137, Oklahoma City, OK 73162 ASAP Reserve an exhibit for your quilt show, church, library, school or civic event today by emailing BuckboardQuilts@cox.net
"Thanking Our Troops—God Bless America Touring Quilts" book contains the heart-warming stories of these 220 patriotic quilts that are touring the nation for four years.
See www.HeavenlyPatchwork.com for quilt photos, entry and rental forms sample stories and to order your books for gifts. They appeal to all military families, patriots, quilters and quilt-lovers alike and are available at a special publisher’s discounted price of $14.95.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
