http://people.bakersfield.com User Posts on http://people.bakersfield.com en-us http://people.bakersfield.com/home/ViewPost/103350 <p>The call went out in late January - we need 1200 quilts by late May. I remember thinking there's no way we can get that many quilts made!&nbsp; I volunteer with Quilts of Valor Foundation making quilts for wounded soldiers.&nbsp; The goal of the organization is to support our wounded in the War on Terror by creating tangible gifts of love which will remind them of home.</p> <p>Gail Belmont, head of Operations in Quilts of Valor came up with the idea of&nbsp;driving across the country picking up the quilts as she travelled and delivering them to Camp Lejeune, NC to present to the wounded Marines and Navy Corpsmen of Company 3/8, returning from Afghanistan.</p> <p>Gail left Valley Springs, CA &nbsp;June 5th in a double cab pickup towing a trailer emblazoned with the logo &quot;Quilts of Valor Across America.&quot; She had 200+ quilts from Washington, Oregon and California, including four that I made.</p> <p>She and her team, her mom and dad,&nbsp;had pick up destinations in&nbsp;Salt Lake City, Denver, Lincoln, Kansas City , Warrenton, St. Louis&nbsp; and Knoxville Tennessee.&nbsp; In Denver, Catherine Roberts, the founder of Quilts of Valor, joined them.</p> <p>They met people along their route delivering quilts, attended several quilt guilds and luncheons, were escorted by honor guards of veterans and had a police escort in Tennessee. They reached North Carolina June 12th. There will be a ceremony Monday, June 15th, honoring the returned troops, when the quilts will be presented.</p> <p>I&nbsp;write about this because&nbsp;I want people to know about one of the many ways people are making a difference in the lives of others.&nbsp; I especially think we cannot do enough to honor our servicemen and women&nbsp;.&nbsp; Later this summer&nbsp; the Cottonpatch Quilt Guild will be presenting quilts to local wounded service personnel.</p>