Bakersfield.com

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!  I volunteer with Quilts of Valor Foundation making quilts for wounded soldiers.  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.

Gail Belmont, head of Operations in Quilts of Valor came up with the idea of 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.

Gail left Valley Springs, CA  June 5th in a double cab pickup towing a trailer emblazoned with the logo "Quilts of Valor Across America." She had 200+ quilts from Washington, Oregon and California, including four that I made.

She and her team, her mom and dad, had pick up destinations in Salt Lake City, Denver, Lincoln, Kansas City , Warrenton, St. Louis  and Knoxville Tennessee.  In Denver, Catherine Roberts, the founder of Quilts of Valor, joined them.

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.

I write about this because I want people to know about one of the many ways people are making a difference in the lives of others.  I especially think we cannot do enough to honor our servicemen and women .  Later this summer  the Cottonpatch Quilt Guild will be presenting quilts to local wounded service personnel.