This quilt was made for me to symbolize something important to me.... our veterans.
This quilt is made up of t-shirts from places I have been, organizations I am involved in, organizations I have supported and things that are symbolic for our country.
I first got started working with our veterans when a group of dedicated volunteers got together using a social media platform called Google+ to take veterans too sick or unable to fly on an Honor Flight. Together we would take a veteran or possibly multiple veterans via a laptop computer to places that were meaningful to our veterans. We visited the various memorials in Washington, D.C. as well as places like the USS Alabama, Pearl Harbor, 9/11 Memorial and even the beaches of Normandy. Because of the dedication of volunteers all over the world we were able to coordinate multiple people in multiple locations to make these Veterans Virtual Tours (now known as Hero Tours) possible.
I am very proud to be able to help with something like this. Just because these men and women didn't qualify to go on an Honor Flight (maybe because of health issues or they weren't cleared by their doctors to take a flight) didn't mean that they didn't deserve to see their memorials. Being able to be among these heroes made a huge difference. I had to put my t-shirt from these trips on this quilt.
When I found this t-shirt last year I knew this had to be a part of this quilt!
No matter if we are saying the Pledge of Allegiance with the students at Midway Heights Elementary School, at a baseball game or at any other function I get goosebumps. There is something very special about saying the Pledge of Allegiance and honoring our country.
Many of you know how much I love supporting, helping and promoting the Central Missouri Honor Flight. What an honor it is to serve those that served our country. I never get tired of hearing veterans stories especially those that have been on an Honor Flight... you watch their eyes light up and how much these trips mean to them. Makes your heart full!
Last November I had the chance to visit Pearl Harbor. I can't tell you how emotional it was to be there. I had heard so much about this place and even visited it via a Veterans Virtual Tour / Hero Tour but being able to see it with my own eyes was something I won't forget. Pearl Harbor is such a huge piece to our history and World War II.
I am also on the Advisory Board for Welcome Home #no1leftbehind campaign and it was a must to have this information in my quilt. We have to work together to end veteran homelessness and I want a reminder of my pledge to our community.
When it came to putting a message on the back this was a tough one. What message, poem or quote could I put on a quilt like this that would represent our veterans? I was sent this quote by a friend and thought it was perfect.... Now I have a perfect reminder when I look at my "Hero Quilt" of the sacrifices that our military men and women give to protect our country.
To all of our military men and women... I thank you!
Interested in having a t-shirt quilt made?
Contact Jane Haworth today at:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/HappyQuiltDesigns
http://www.janehaworth.com/
She is amazingly talented and can make just about any type of quilt you want! She is very reasonable and very good at what she does! Oh and tell her Michele Spry sent you!
I am very proud to be able to help with something like this. Just because these men and women didn't qualify to go on an Honor Flight (maybe because of health issues or they weren't cleared by their doctors to take a flight) didn't mean that they didn't deserve to see their memorials. Being able to be among these heroes made a huge difference. I had to put my t-shirt from these trips on this quilt.
No matter if we are saying the Pledge of Allegiance with the students at Midway Heights Elementary School, at a baseball game or at any other function I get goosebumps. There is something very special about saying the Pledge of Allegiance and honoring our country.
I am also on the Advisory Board for Welcome Home #no1leftbehind campaign and it was a must to have this information in my quilt. We have to work together to end veteran homelessness and I want a reminder of my pledge to our community.
To all of our military men and women... I thank you!
Interested in having a t-shirt quilt made?
Contact Jane Haworth today at:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/HappyQuiltDesigns
http://www.janehaworth.com/
She is amazingly talented and can make just about any type of quilt you want! She is very reasonable and very good at what she does! Oh and tell her Michele Spry sent you!
That is one way of honoring those men and women who sacrificed much for our country! And I love that this is not simply a quilt of random logos and memorabilia – that every piece in there is a place that you’ve helped, or have been a part of yourself. I do hope that more people choose to honor our veterans that way – which is by making sure that they live comfortably and peacefully after serving our country. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteBrad Post @ Jan Dils
Wow! Those quilts are not just beautiful, they are also meaningful. That is a good way to honor and give thanks to the veterans who offered their lives just to protect and give service to our country. Thanks for sharing that, Michele! Kudos and all the best to you!
ReplyDeleteCollene Mcculloch @ Brilliant Marble