reginalovesfabric

I too make quilts for wounded soliders. Here is south Hattiesburg is Camp Shelby where the men come before going to Iraq. I know someone that works out there and she helps me distrubute my quilts. So far I've made 3 and quilted 2 for anyone lady. It does my heart good to give these quilts even though I don't see who gets them. Once I got a thank you for a soilder and I cried. He lost his leg fighting for my freedom so I figure a quilt might let him know I appreciate what he did.
I have two more tops ready for quilting.

Regina

dmackey

Regina,

The love you get back in the thank you letters is worth the time to make those quilts.

While no one should expect a thank you from soldiers too busy trying to avoid harm, or going through rehab or hospitalized, when you do get one, you know how much they loved their quilt, and it lifts my spirit for months!

I actually believe I saw one of my quilts on the news one night about 3 years ago. I had been part of a group that sent several quilts to Walter Reed Hospital, and I could see it on the bed near the soldier they were talking to! It was a top I had designed, but I didn't quilt it.

Diane

reginalovesfabric

I agree I don't want a thanks for this is my thanks to them. On my labels I usually just put my first name and the city and state where I live. This particular quilt was given by a friend from my church and she told the solider my name. I am so thankful for my ability to do this. I wish I didn't have to work and could donate more time to the cause but I have a addiction to eating and buying fabric so I guess I'd better keep showing up at the office. There is a big need for quilters to do this and I hope everyone just does one quilt.

Regina

Edie

With all respect to QOV, I am wondering here if I go to all the work of making a quilt and it goes to Afghanistan or Iraq and the hospital in Germany won't let the soldier keep it, what's the sense. Can we make them and send them to where they will be able to get them and keep them. Could someone tell me if this is correct? I thought I read here that they couldn't keep them. I have every intention of making a few, but would like to know the best way to do this - other than just taking it to our local VA hospital. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me. Edie

dmackey

Edie,

If a soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan is getting the quilt from the hospital, then he/she cannot keep it due to the possible transfer of bacteria. The quilt does get washed and reused for other soldiers.

If you mail to a specific soldier, not hospitalized, they can keep it. Just be sure it is about twin sized and easy for them to roll up and carry.

I can find out for sure about the hospitals. Might take me a couple of days.

I think QOV sends their quilts to Germany where there is a military hospital that takes in those air lifted from Iraq and Afghanistan. Not sure, so you might want to ask them.


Diane

Edie

That's even better - the hospital in Germany. That was another thing I was thinking about. That is what I would like to do also.

Thanks so much for your help! Edie

justwannaquilt

I did some looking
I know when my husband was coming home from Iraq (hurt) he went through Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. Which is where the vast majority of injured troops are treated after being evacuated out of Iraq or Afganistan.

http://ermc.amedd.army.mil/landstuhl/index.cfm is a link to their homepage, and [email protected] is an EMAIL address to the public affairs office. If you would like to send quilts to them or have questions about quilts that you may send in the future, shoot them an email I am sure they would help you out and answer any questions you may have.
I know when my husband was there the people were AMAZING!!!!

I think he still has some (personal) phone numbers from his time in the hospital there, when he gets home tonight I will see and report back to ya IF I can get any closer to an answer.

Edie

Thank you very much for your help and please give your husband a hug from a grateful citizen of the United States of America! He is a hero, through and through!

Edie

reginalovesfabric

Edie, I have made sure that my quilts go to a solider and that he/she keeps them. My suggestion is to go through your church, a friend's church or find an local base and call. The army base here in Hattiesburg MS has a chaplin that was giving out candy to soliders being processed to go to Iraq and they didn't have time to eat so he asked for candy to be donated. I took that on as a mission and got them so far over 25# of candy. I would be ticked if I knew I made a quilt for a soilder and he didn't get to keep it.

Regina

Edie

That was basically how I felt too. We have a veterans hospital not more than three miles from us and I could check with them and I could also donate some to them too - assuming I could get a lot made.

Also, one more thing - when Hurricane Katrina hit you folks, our next door neighbors loaded up their motor home and drove down to Hattiesburg and worked for the animals. Helping the homeless animals and taking care of them. They came home and the next morning, he came over and said "Come see what we brought home". It was a puppy mixed of some sort or another about 2 months old or so - they named him Reckless - and this poor emaciated Walker Coon Hound. She had mange, she had fleas, she had heartworm, she was half starved, she must not have weighed more than 20 lbs. She now is a healthy, not sure on age, 5 year old. Her name is Hattie - named after Hattiesburg. She is a love, she is all cured, she is beautiful and she loves carrots. I love happy stories. Someone has to help the animals too. And he does it better than anyone I have ever met. Edie