dmackey

I sent an email to MaryAnn Phillips of Soldiers Angels at Ramstein in Germany and she told me that many soldiers arrive from CASF with their quilts and fleece blankets in tow, so she doesn't think they are taken from them at the hospital. Many soldiers arrive without any personal belongings because they are coming almost directly from the battlefield, to CASF, stabilized, and air lifted to Germany. Their personal stuff comes later, and that would include quilts and blankets.

So, I think it is safe to say that quilts sent to CASF in Iraq and Afghanistan, will travel with the wounded soldier it is given to.

I am still waiting for a call back from Wilford Hall. I left a message for the dept. that handles medical personnel for deployments to see if they have something to add.

It was almost two years ago when one of our moms was told not to send quilts because the soldiers couldn't keep them. I wish I had checked into it back then!

Diane

dmackey

justwannaquilt,

I hope your husband has recovered from his injuries! Thank him for his service from me and my family.

Thank you for all you have to deal with during deployments too.

Separation is so hard on family. My son has yet to have children, but I see what his wife goes through and it is an incredible sacrifce the families of the deployed deal with. Did I mention all the gray hairs this gives me as well?

Diane

justwannaquilt

Thank you, he wasn't hurt NEARLY as bad as most soldiers coming home. He will never really "recover" he messed his back up and some days are a chore just to walk but he considers himself lucky because he can pick our kids up and go play with them alot of soliders comeing back CAN NOT! Because of him being nondeployable the army "let him go"! The military is still a HUGE part of our lives and I will forever consider myself an Army wife.

Diane, thank you for the info you provided to everyone.
When Jeff got home last night he said go get the website off of my bag. It is Soldiers Angel. When he got to LRMC they (everyone that came with him) were met with open arms and given book bags and hygene items, vouchers for clothing. You name it they had it.

dmackey

Soldiers Angels is a great organization. They take in quilts and blankets along with many other things, http://soldiersangels.com/

Because I am so connected with the AF parents, we always have someone we know deployed and can tell us their needs as well as how to help others. We have had some really fun projects such as helping to decorate a morale tent, getting shoes for kids, school supplies, yarn and knitting stuff.

We are so blessed because our pilots tend to be in a much safer environment than the ground troops, and our pilot's main concern is the ground troops, not each other. Most tell us of things they want to give to those troops, so that is very heartwarming. My son always says he doesn't need anything but mail, but often will tell us what the Chaplain or medics can use to distribute.

I'm glad to hear your husband is doing okay, but I also know back problems can cause lots of other issues. May I suggest a massage therapy that I think is awesome? It is called Cranial Sacral Message therapy and it is very gentle but works great for back issues. It removed a kink I had in my hip and another in my neck after 25 years of suffereing, in one session. It is a great massage for sciatica relief too.

Diane

reginalovesfabric

thank you for that story I will pass that on....and tell Hattie I'm glad she made it. Hattiesburg is named after a man's wife and her name was Hattie. I don't know all the story about them.
I'm love this message board.
One more thing about the solider quilts, I have done mine in RED WHITE and BLUE.....but anything will do.
Just a suggestion

Regina

just a remark about Katrina....I've never been so scared as I was that day. I prayed and prayed and prayers were answered. I lost a half of a shingle off the roof and the trees that fell, went into the yard not on the house. Thank you Jesus.

justwannaquilt

Diane, I will give him the info about the massage. thats all he needs right. lol no at this point I will do whatever it takes to help. They (the military and docotors in general) say their is nothing they can do for him short of surgery and becuase he is still young they do not want to go that route unless it gets REALLY bad! He still works 5 days a week so he still has a life. If this life was ever beyond his reach because of pain I would be the first to suggest surgery. But until then we pacify the pain.

a little side note.
Red, white, and blue quilts are great. BUT...I have been told by MANY that when sending quilts, pillowcases, whatever the case may be to soldiers, exp. wounded soldiers don't make them actually LOOK like a flag. Caskets are covered in flags and although the soldiers love the patriotic theme, they don't like the thought of being wounded/in harms way and covered in a flag!

Anyways keep quilting for our troops, I know they appreciate it!

reginalovesfabric

thank you for that thought, it never occured to me about them looking like flags, mine don't. I've made a crazy patch, a liberty sunbonnet sue, and big blocks sewn together.

mimisharon

Having made and given many quilts to Wounded Warriors, Quilts of Valor, and our families of lost Heroes, I can tell you they each appreciate their quilts, wherever they are from. We here in N Carolina have the two Wounded Warrior units to donate to (Camp LeJeune and Ft. Bragg) as well as Veterans hospitals and lots of military returning or leaving daily.

God Bless you each one for your care and concern for our military!

Sharon (an Army mom)

Damkina

In England we've only been making Quilts Of Valour since this Christmas just gone, and have made over 100 to date. Up to now I've only been able to make 6.

At the moment these quilts are being given to the soldiers once they reach home soil, and have their name, rank, regiment and who made the quilt on the label. I've have only just finished sewing my blocks into strips and laid them on the ironing board for my next QOV.

I feel that it is a privelage to make these quilts when soldiers give so much. My son is out in the Sand Pit right now, and we had a phone call during this week for QOV for some of the lads in his Regiment.

It made me sick to my stomach!

Edie

God bless your son. I have one more project to complete and then I will start on mine.

I like the idea of giving them when they land on the Home soil. That is what I would like to do!

I really can't wait to get going on it! I have ideas and they just run around in my brain just waiting to get out on a piece of paper.

Thanks for your info. Edie