Merry Christmas to those who celebrate Christmas

May your family gatherings be full of some great memories. Blessings to you and your family. This group is a wonderful blessing for me and hopefully for others. Many thanks to all who have shared in the pleasure of covering our returning troops. This year was such a success, I can only imagine what next year will bring.

Rita

QOV Newsletter

The December QOV Newsletter is up: http://www.qovf.org/content/newsletters.html

Another good read and we definitely need to weed out some of the pink and florals from our stash! Marilyn is involved with a group from Canada who makes quilts for cancer patients and I have started pulling the pinks for that cause. Christmas prints have gone to those who make stockings for the troops and kid fabrics go to those involved with the Linus project..kids with cancer.

Rita

A QOV story to share

I've been wanting to share this story with you from our very own Karen!

Dear Readers,
I made a Stack-n-Whack quilt for Quilts of Valor and the soldier who received it called me on a Sunday night in October. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio and he and his wife liked the quilt so much they decorated there entire room around it. I was so very excited to hear from him. In fact, they have a bed and breakfast and John and I are going to stay there during the International Quilt Show in April. So ladies, our soldiers really do get the quilts we make and it does make a BIG difference in the quality we put into them.
Sincerely,
Karen Lamboley
Montgomery, IL

Marine Sings Merry Christmas from Afghanistan

http://www.allproudamericans.com/Marine-Sings-Merry-Christmas-from-Afghanistan.html

A Thank you from our soldiers!

I just got this thank you note forwarded to us:


Vicki,
I just wanted to thank you again for all of the hard work you ladies
put in for our Soldiers! They are so appreciative and the little note
on the quilts is perfect. I've heard numerous Soldiers talking about
the quilts and they ask me questions about who you guys are etc... It's
is such a blessing to have people like you women! Thank you again and
have a very Merry Christmas!

Amanda

Tuesday's QOV sew-in

Whew, coming up for air and remembered I hadn't written anything about our sew-in. I think I counted 18 people---filled the house again! We were back with the X-block this month and will probably be finishing those up next month.

A few tops were dropped off for quilting and some went off with Edith (thank you, Edith); and had some quilted tops dropped off and those went with people to do the binding (and I can't remember all who took those). So, I have some here that need labels and WOW, you make my job a little easier and easier each month. Thank you.

We had a visitor as well. Ty, the recipient of our presentation this past Sunday, came by to thank US for OUR service. The thank you's go round and round...we thanking our vets and they thanking us. As I've said before, if it weren't for our vets we wouldn't be able to do what we do and it's a hobby! But your words were very inspiring and Ty, you can stop by anytime.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah.

Rita

Sunday's Presentation Pictures

A note from Tina: Rita, we didn't go inside the gym because it was standing room only for relatives and friends. It was a wonderful turn out.

The quilts were all laid out on tables and someone was supposed to announce that the soldiers should go to our area for their quilt, and a card from a Daisy group! The announcement was never made, so we had to round the soldiers up ourselves. We have many left over, but what a start for the next return. I got a couple pictures, Jim got a couple, and Vicki said that Rays camera was really good, so hoping he got good pictures. It was a very good first time for me.

From the pictures taken at the returns you got to go to, they were much better. But hey, it was all good.

Tina

...and another note from Vicki: A lot of adages enter into this past evening - when given lemons make lemonade, old age and trickery will win out every time, and the best laid plans of mice and men.

The plans were all in place, we arrived at Hampshire High School early to help with the set up. The Patriotic Guard helped my husband with the quilts and several of the Reservists helped get the rest of the quilts out storage (Rita took her quilts on Friday before the storm). So the quilts are all arranged on the tables out side of the gym. While we were waiting a mother and her little girls approached us saying her dad, the little girl's grandfather was returning with the troops and her Daisy Troop (Youngest Girl Scouts) had made Christmas cards and could she stand at the end of the table and give the men each a card. Well of course we said she could what a treat for us to see her light up every time she handed out a card. The families were ushered into the gym and Tina, Alberta, My friend Mary, Myself and our husbands were allowed to stay in the commons area where I had been told the men would come into. We saw the fire trucks, and buses arrive - we knew before the families that they troops were home. So we waited, and waited - well you know they had a lot of gear to take off the buses and it was a long ride and some of them well you can figure that out. So finally they started to file into the commons area between the Patriotic Guard and into the gym. Oh my gosh, the families were so excited. After everyone was in and Commander Bennett took the podium he gave his very nervous delivery of the 485th Engineering Company History and some other words, they retired the Company flag that had traveled to Iraq with them, I must say it needed to be retired and they replaced it with a new one and then said in his biggest voice -DISMISSED - well the families were out of their seats.

BUT WAIT - he forgot to read the message about the quilts - what were we going to do - some of the young soldiers started to file out of the gym - some actually got away - we could not capture them. So I made my way to the doors and grabbed a couple of the young soldiers who had helped us earlier - they stood at the doors and got the men in our direction. Well you know it worked and the four of us actually got to talk to a lot of the young men & women and wrap them in their quilts as the families looked on. That then got the attention of others and slowly but surely we got the majority of them. They were so surprised but they really loved the quilts and I myself got to tell several of them about the labels and were to put there names and how I hoped they would be able to pass these on to future generations. I have never met a sweeter bunch of men and women. They ranged from the very young to one man that was 58 years old. What a treat for me and guess what I kept so busy I did not have time for any tears to fall. There was one quilt in the bunch that I had pieced and quilted and bounded and I had held that back for the Commander (I was being a little selfish). I finally found him collecting his gear - he apologized for missing the announcement and said he was just very nervous - I told that was obvious and he laughed. I hand him his quilt and helped him removed it from the pillow case and wrapped him in it and he was so taken back and so pleased. I got another big hug and that made everything right with the world. Things don't always go as we want or as we hoped but in the end it usually works out. All in all it was a great evening and I was so proud to represent Land of Lincoln Quilts of Valor.

PS>

Rita - I brought back 21 quilts (as I said some of them just plain got away) and Alberta took three of hers to send to her sister in Colorado to take to a Military Hospital). I gave my card to the Sergeant, who was kind of in charge and asked him to check and see if everyone got a quilt the next time they were together. They have a location in Rockford for it will be easy for me to make sure they get their quilts. So I will get back to quilting probably in a few days and I will hold onto the quilts until such time that they are gone or you need them. Thanks again for all of your support and God bless each and everyone of the girls that cut, sewed and quilted and bound the quilts this would not have happened without all of us working together. There is will be an article on the interest tomorrow about the troops and will include information about LOLQOV. I talked to a reporter and she called me today to verify some information so I will send the link tomorrow.

--
And now back to my quilting,

Vixanna "Vicki" Robbel

PS we made the newspaper:
http://couriernews.suntimes.com/news/2711411-417/hampshire-quilts-welcome-iraq-members.html

Presentation at the Craft show!

While we await news on how the quilt presentation went last night, thought I'd tell you about yesterday at the craft show at my church, Holy Angels, Aurora. Again, being able to just let people know what we do was rewarding along, of course, sitting among a couple quilting buddies! We also had the honor to present a QOV to a fellow parishioner and I hope he doesn't mind my posting his thank you:

I am very grateful for the fantastic quilt of valor, which you so graciously presented to me at the St Anne's Society Craft Fair at Holy Angels Church on Sunday, December 5, 2010.

It will forever be held in high prominence in honor of my 36 years of military service, in the U.S. Army.

The efforts of your Quilts of Valor Foundation are a true visual testament to the appreciation and support currently provided to our service personnel. I am certain that your example of gratitude will leave a lasting impression upon the lives of the many service personnel blessed to receive a QOV.

Again, God bless and thank you very much for the tangible recognition of my military service.

Thanks for the privilege of having served...

Ty Simmons
CW4 (Ret.)
U.S. Army, AVN

PS If you have access to facebook, check out his speech given at a local HS: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1579078408781
Rita

Ceremony

Anyone planning on attending the ceremony at Hampshire High School located 45W345 Big Timber Rd, Hampshire, IL?

What they're going to do is, they are going to set up tables out in the lobby and when the men exit the gym area WE will give them their quilts. If you are, find the tables and look for Vickie and introduce yourselves and you can help hand out the quilts. Please take a whole bunch of pictures and get back to me as well!!


Here is a newspaper article written about the event:
http://couriernews.suntimes.com/news/2674235-418/hampshire-soldiers-welcome-unit-event.html

Rita

Delivered!

I did deliver 93 (50 coming from our Rockford group) quilts to the school. The janitors came out and loaded them up on carts and skids...I said, oh good, now I can drive legal (see out my back window)! I feel like an expectant "grandma" waiting and waiting! I hope some of you will be able to attend and send me pictures.

Job well done my friends!
Rita

485th Engineering Co Army Reservists

We have enough quilts!! There are a total of 170 that came home, but 27 are going directly home; we 'only' need 143 and we have them!!!

So, the ceremony is Sunday night at the Hampshire High School at 7:30 pm. Now, would anyone be interested in going? We need to get the quilts there.

Thank you for getting it done!!

Rita

Returning Heros

We are awaiting word on 170 soldiers returning home this weekend. Some of you want information on these ceremonies and what I have right now is if the ceremony is held on Sunday, they are trying to get Woodstock High School to hold it. If it is on Monday, it will be at the Sears Center. More than likely, it will be Sunday.

Again, if you have any tops completed, or just need binding, let me know as we are close to our goal but not there yet. We thought we had another month but they're coming home and that's all that matters!!

Rita