Welcome, quiltingfan. The quilting festival sounds fantastic. Lucky you. I know it's not until March but remember to give us a detailed report afterward. :0)
Be sure to check out Jane Stickle's quilt "Dear Jane" if you want to see some historical anticipatory grief at work. Although she apparently wasn't worried over her husband's safety, she had several nephews and local men away at war.
Crafting definitely helps with deployment. I made my bf a blanket while he was deployed and shipped it as the IQ winter started. It felt great knowing I was keeping him warm. And, I made him another blanket when he came home for the same reason. I have a pattern picked out for his next deployment.