I have a son-in-law who is a combat medic who has been stationed overseas. I joined an online group called Operation Quiet Comfort. This group donates things to "comfort" our wounded soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are sewing many things like: cool neck ties, special adaption clothing, travel size pillow cases and two types of quilts. They also accept donations of other things flip-flops, writing stuff, etc. as the need arises. Right now they are in real need of a lot of what they call small quilts.
These are 3 foot by 5 foot quilts to put over the soldiers on the stretchers as they are transported from the field to hospitals in Germany and stateside. They can be any pattern you like and any fabric except wool. They request darker colors, and that there be no red, or it be used very sparingly in the prints, and no flourescents. Simply quilting is all they need, and they need a lot of these quilts, quickly. Or, if you have a lot of old jeans to work with, they have another quilt project you might be interested in: the Four Freedoms Gratitude Quilt Project. For more information about the Four Freedoms Gratitude Quilt project and rules that must be followed when a quilt is made, contact Lori at [email protected] .
Anyway, I just had a "duh" moment when I realized that perhaps I could post this need for small quilts on this Quilter's board and many of you may like to help. You can personally reply to me, or check out the web site www.operationquietcomfort.com .
Thank you,
Grandma Moonchild.

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to help out. I have two nephews that are or were serving in Iraq this year. One of them was in roadside accident and lost both of his legs. It took a couple of days to get him stabilized and back to the states. The transport was a pretty long trip for him (and his brother who was able to accompany him on his trip back). I appreciate all of the giving that the quilt guilds have done in trying to help out. While in the hospital in DC, he did receive a couple of quilts for comfort.

I would love to make quilts for the transportation.

I think this is a wonderful thing that you are doing. I have a daughter who is expected to be Iraq in early October. She has already left to do her training and will not be home for about 14 mos. I really appreciate all the efforts made to comfort our service members. I will bookmark this for a later date. I havn't sewn since March cause of surgery and complications but plan on doing some starting today. I have several wedding gifts I have to finish up before I start anything else, but I would love to help out when I get closer to getting caught up.

kathyj ... Jim's Gem ... words fail me.

... these kids are bright rays of hope for the future and our world.

If you join the yahoo group for Operation Quiet Comfort you can download the guidelines for the quilts and see all the other works that they do. If that is out of the question for you, just let me know how to reach you with the guidelines and you can use me as a go-between to the group.

OMG kapatt.....I am sooo sorry to hear about your nephew.
Being over in the "giant litter box" is not fun for anyone. Nerves of loved ones get stretched really thin.
Having my son in law there 2 so far, a nephew, brother in law, and a couple "adopted" sons there (they are adopted because they think I'm a cool mom :) Not legally adopted, but you know what I mean)....
It's just hard and praying everyday for EVERYONE'S safe return. Now the scuttlebutt is .... hubby might have to go. Oh well......that's his job.

But, I digress....I think it's a great thing to do. I'll have to get some scraps set aside and do these up once I get my MAJOR projects done that I am TRYING to work on.

I am working on this size quilt now. Going to site to join. Have very strong feelings for our men and women in uniform. I thank GOD my son came home with only a few emotioal and a hearing problem.

Lets keep these wonderful people in our prayers always.

Linda

Thank you Tlrnhi. My nephew, his wife and the rest of the family are handling things well. His brother is still over in Iraq and of course we worry about him. Since this is the main forum, I'll make this post about quilts. I understand that my nephew received 2 or maybe 3 quilts at the hospital. The quilts were made by quilters for our wounded servicemen.
I appreciate very much the support people are giving our military service men and women.

Wasn't quilt making for soldiers a big thing during the American civil war? Hmm, wonder if years from now these quilts will be the same kind of keepsakes.

I'm always amazed at the willingness of service. My deepest respect to those who go and those who support.

No one really explained to me why no reds or pinks except as small amount of colors in prints, I assumed it was for that reason. On the other hand, Patriotic quilts are okay if you use predominately the blue (remember the need for dark colors) with red and white in lesser quantities. I am sure the soldiers will keep these quilts because aside from the obivious need to keep them warm in transit, they are a gift of love and support. If you can whip out an awesome pattern relatively fast, I know they will really admire that; but since I am a "slow" quilter, I have chosen simple patterns like 9-patch, etc. to work with. I have even toyed with idea of a very simple plain one side and 5ft length of print the other machine quilted in simple grid to get a "volume" of quilts to them.

Thanks for your participation and support.

I cut out 10 simple patterns in patriotic material this afternoon. My mom (80) is going to help piece them. We will make as many as we can this winter. This is a wonderful thing quilters are doing and very rewarding way to show our support.

God Bless you all

Linda

Oh and the pinks are to girlish and the majority of the injured are male. Not saying we dont have female wounded because we do. A very dearfriend to my son was injured when they was in Iraq. But being a soldier most of them don't want girlie things either lol.

OH my.. I am in theripy for walking and I am so blessed. The room also has young men, so far not a woman. that sport short GI haircuts, lost limbs and I feel so hurt for them.

Our brave men and woman are over seas whether we like it or not !

Thank you for reminding us !
Ellen

I emailed Lori for more information.

I didn't have much luck at the website www.operationquietcomfort.com finding any info on the quilts. Maybe I just didn't know where to look, even the 'about us' page was lacking in information.

This is something that I am going to pass on to my quilt guild and some other friends.

thanx for sharing

sue

You have to join and then they are listed under file.

Kathyj - Please tell your nephew thank you for the sacrifice he gave for me. I will be praying for him daily for strength and perseverance. If all members of this site made only one each, wow, how cool would that be? Cindy

I did join the yahoo group but haven't had a chance to read all of their introductory info. My email inbox is loading up fast tho so they must be a very active group.

sue

they are so I am putting mine on to get mail in a form like this one. It will help.

woohoo cut out 8 quilts for the troops and sewn them into strips. Today will cut and sew into more strips. Tomorrow start backing t hem.

Linda