Veterans quilts Quilts of Valor
 

Anyone interested in making quilts for veterans can get information at www.qovf.org

Do take the time to look it up....it has a wealth of information and it will answer any questions you may have. I have been making Quilts of Valor since 2009, and it is very rewarding. You can Google Quilts of Valor by state, and the chances are good you will find a contact within your state.

I, too, have been making Quilts of Valor for 5-1/2 years, attempting to make one a week. Like quilttinger said, it is very rewarding.

I received the most meaninfgul thank you note from the medical staff in Afghanistan, wherein they thanked me for the beautiful quilt and added that it was draped over the soldier when he received his Purple Heart. I hadn't thought of the Purple Heart thing before but the message really tugged at my heart strings. Yes, this is rewarding work and as long as I'm able. . . . . .

I think that is a great idea.

I have a question about this. With the wars winding down and soldiers coming home, will there still be a need for quilts?

Every injured veteran is to receive a quilt. My guild has also been making them and giving them to any veteran of any war. These people really appreciate them. As long as they served they are given a quilt.

I have a concern about the high cost of postage, to send them to be used. What do you all do about that? any suggestions for us? I would love to do it....my son JON is a Marine Corp Captain, helicoptor pilot and I sure have the gray hair to prove it....we / HE did Iraq and it was a scared time for us, as parents. My hubby was a Navy Lt. and flew F4J's....we did VN twice.......that was a worrisome time too.

My friend, Cindy, and I both make QOVs. We work from the same pool of fabrics and money. We go to 3-4 local events per year ( i.e., community days, fairs, etc) to raise funds to support this worthy cause. We take a table, a sign, our books (which I'll explain later), a money box and two quilts. Cindy stands at one end of the table, me at the other. We usually start a conversation by saying, "may we talk to you about our quilts, why we make them and where they are going?" Then we go on to explain about QOVs, how we get our destinations, the cost of supplies and postage (we estimate about $80 each to make and ship), and ask if they can help with a donation. Very few turn us down. At the end of a long day, we come away with several hundred dollars.

Regarding the need for these quilts now that the conflicts are winding down, many of our wounded will need care for many years. We often find a local need and have given to WWIIs, VietNam and Korean vets. One lad was in the VietNam and was recently confined at a psych unit for several months owing the post traumatic stress. His wife said she expected to come home and find him dead. (They took all of the guns out of the house.) When he agreed to go for help, he said he only wanted to talk to a VA doctor, they were the only ones who would understand.

When quilt is ready, we contact the Foundation and they in turn will provide a destination. For the past year, all of our quilts have gone to Afghanistan or Landstahl, Germany. We have a large hospital in Landsahl where they do the serious surgeries. When a soldier gets to Landstahl, he will return home and in most cases cannot return to combat. Cindy and I have pictures of the medical transport planes that carry these heroes. One photo shows the litters stacked three high on the wall and a line of litters down the center of the plane. AND, you can see they all have red/white/blue covering them.

Regarding our books. We take a photos of several of our completed quilts. We have a few thank you notes. We have a few pictures of recipients. We have copies of our destination letters. We show these books as we talk to the public. We have been invited to speak at ladies and mens clubs, churches and find these folks to be generous.

This is all I can think to share with you now and must close. I have an appointment and need to head out.

Thanks for listening to this long post.

Thanks for the info Suz! I've wanted to do this. I am a full time grandmother/caregiver to two of my grandsons, helping my daughter out who is going through a nasty divorce. You mentioned the hospital in Landstahl. My daughter was in the Army, served in Iraq. She is a critical care nurse and worked at Walter Reed. Once the patients left Landstahl they went straight to her unit. She had patients who were 2-3 days post-injury. She thoroughly enjoyed working with these soldiers. She said they all had such positive attitudes.

Veteran's quilts are always a great one to make. Thank you for the site.
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