Well on this trip I think we have experienced all 4 seasons! Sunshine and flowers, apple blossoms, brown grass, bare trees and don’t forget the snow!!! Who would have thought May could be quite so diverse. Thanks Randy for keeping us safe, all 2675 miles! We couldn’t have asked for a better driver.
On the trip home we met several different people that spotted the bus and stopped to talk. It is so fun to watch their expressions as they look at the bus and hear all about the quilts and the soldiers. Families with military members tell us how much it means to them that people are doing something so nice for the soldiers. Veterans are touched by the gesture and usually leave a little misty eyed.
We have our first work days next week, we look forward to sharing our stories with the ladies that weren’t able to make the trip. We are all anxious to start working on a new quilt.
THANK YOU for helping to make this mission possible!!! We are honored to represent Otter Tail county, Minnesota! -and we can't forget the North Dakota girls and their friends!!
Friday, May 3, 2013
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Waking up in Hannibal MO
Last night after we ate we were entertained by a gentleman that told us about Hannibal, the boyhood home of Samuel Clemens. He had some really entertaining unknown stories about the different adventures that Samuel Clemens had growing up in Hannibal.
Hannibal Mo is such a cute little town. We went down to the local quilt shop – Hickory Stick. We were greeted by Pat the owner, her very patient employees, the Mayor, Roy Hark , Gail Bryant, Tourism Director and McKenzie Disselhort Chamber Director. They welcomed us to Hannibal and commended us for accomplishing our mission, making and delivering 950 quilts to wounded soldiers.
Check our their newspaper for a story – www.hannibal.net
Here are some pictures of this neat little town.
We headed out to the Amana Colonies in IA. It turned cold but we enjoyed some shopping and a talk by fabric designer Stephanie Brandenburg. We once again got to share a meal together.
It has been lots of fun to get to know each other, and I have to tell you, there has been fabric and patterns purchased to start the next quilt for QOV. This trip has inspired us to get busy and make sure that we can thank as many soldiers as we possibly can by presenting them with a quilt made with love.
More about Wednesday
A few of the ladies were outside by the bus on Tuesday evening and a gentleman pulled up. He asked if they were with the bus and they did what we do, they started telling him about our QOV mission. It turned out that the gentleman was Charles Clark the owner of 3 quilt shops. He wanted to make a donation of fabric! Being on a tight schedule we tried to figure out how to meet up with him. Randy (the wonderful bus driver!) told us that we would be returning towards Paducah and could swing in on the way back from Fort Campbell.
Thank you Mr. Clark from Calico Country Sew & Vac of Paducah. Check out his store at www.calicocountry.com and tell him thanks! If you don’t see your mom, wife, or friend in the picture, we have not lost them, they were in the store shopping. Yes you do know we would be doing that too!
Another employee in a different fabric store in Paducah asked if we took donations. She actually went home and went through her fabric and came back to our hotel with a bag for us.
We traveled to Hannibal Missouri and had a delicious super at LulaBelle’s Infamous Bed and Breakfast. Thank you Peg and her step-son Tim Ranney for the wonderful treat. We had a wonderful time.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Wednesday at Fort Campbell
Everyone was up and on the bus early so we were off at 7:45 to Fort Campbell. It was about a 1 1/2 hour drive. We were met and led to the building were we distributed the quilt by FRSA Kerry Graef. After getting the quilts unpacked and displayed Maser Sargent Cozad welcomed us to base and told us a little bit about the base and the program. Fort Campbell is actually in both Kentucky and Tennessee, it’s address is Kentucky because that is where the post office is. We were presented with a certificate of appreciation from the base. It says-
Your selfless service and commitment to the soldiers in transition is invaluable. Your contribution, dedication, and compassion significantly impact the soldiers and families of the Fort Campbell Warrior Transition Battalion. your actions reflect great credit upon your organization, the community and the United States Army.
This award goes to everyone that helped in any way to make this journey such a success. Thank you quilters at home and the great people of Minnesota and North Dackota!!
We were each also presented with a pin from the Battalion.
We were then able to present Master Sargent Cozad with a quilt that he picked out.
I have been quizzing everyone on the bus about what stands out from their experiences and I hear time and time again how humble the soldiers are. They find it hard to believe that we have brought these quilts from Minnesota to give to them without expecting payment. We continue to assure them that it is a privilege to be able to thank them in this small way for all they do for us.
We actually met several soldiers that will be deploying again, one on Monday and others within 2 weeks. Please pray for our soldiers. They know what they will face and do it bravely. One career soldier, a Vietnam veteran, commented that he was proud to see that the country was treating the soldiers from this war right, by showing their support no matter what you think about the war.
Enjoy some pictures!
It was a smaller area but the soldiers came in a few at a time so we got a chance to visit with many of them. The soldiers were from many different states and even Australia, and China. It was fun to watch after they received there quilts is was very common for the soldiers to be on the phone texting or calling friends to come and see us. One soldier had just received his quilt and was telling how his mom had taken a piece of fabric and tied knots in it saying a prayer for him with every knot. He carried it in his breast pocket. Since doing it for her son this mom and her friends have continued to make these cloths for the soldiers to carry as a reminder that many people are praying for them, they have made over 400. After telling this story his mom called him (mom's know everything!) and he took pictures of the quilts and soldiers and sent them to her.
One Soldier said that he had received a quilt when he was first injured and was in the hospital but had worn it out with use, so he was so happy to have a new quilt to use to cover up with.
It made us think to talk to the soldiers that had gone into the service planning on it being a career and suddenly, due to injury's, they were no longer able to follow their dream and were now trying to figure out what life was going to be like as a civilian, dealing with limitations from injuries they have received from serving out country. Remember these soldiers and their families.
This next section is special for Mark in Kuwait. His mom is on the trip and his wife and children are here at Fort Campbell. It was a happy reunion! Enjoy the pictures, we wish you a safe return. Thank you for what you are doing for us!
Your selfless service and commitment to the soldiers in transition is invaluable. Your contribution, dedication, and compassion significantly impact the soldiers and families of the Fort Campbell Warrior Transition Battalion. your actions reflect great credit upon your organization, the community and the United States Army.
This award goes to everyone that helped in any way to make this journey such a success. Thank you quilters at home and the great people of Minnesota and North Dackota!!
We were each also presented with a pin from the Battalion.
We were then able to present Master Sargent Cozad with a quilt that he picked out.
I have been quizzing everyone on the bus about what stands out from their experiences and I hear time and time again how humble the soldiers are. They find it hard to believe that we have brought these quilts from Minnesota to give to them without expecting payment. We continue to assure them that it is a privilege to be able to thank them in this small way for all they do for us.
We actually met several soldiers that will be deploying again, one on Monday and others within 2 weeks. Please pray for our soldiers. They know what they will face and do it bravely. One career soldier, a Vietnam veteran, commented that he was proud to see that the country was treating the soldiers from this war right, by showing their support no matter what you think about the war.
Enjoy some pictures!
It was a smaller area but the soldiers came in a few at a time so we got a chance to visit with many of them. The soldiers were from many different states and even Australia, and China. It was fun to watch after they received there quilts is was very common for the soldiers to be on the phone texting or calling friends to come and see us. One soldier had just received his quilt and was telling how his mom had taken a piece of fabric and tied knots in it saying a prayer for him with every knot. He carried it in his breast pocket. Since doing it for her son this mom and her friends have continued to make these cloths for the soldiers to carry as a reminder that many people are praying for them, they have made over 400. After telling this story his mom called him (mom's know everything!) and he took pictures of the quilts and soldiers and sent them to her.
One Soldier said that he had received a quilt when he was first injured and was in the hospital but had worn it out with use, so he was so happy to have a new quilt to use to cover up with.
It made us think to talk to the soldiers that had gone into the service planning on it being a career and suddenly, due to injury's, they were no longer able to follow their dream and were now trying to figure out what life was going to be like as a civilian, dealing with limitations from injuries they have received from serving out country. Remember these soldiers and their families.
This next section is special for Mark in Kuwait. His mom is on the trip and his wife and children are here at Fort Campbell. It was a happy reunion! Enjoy the pictures, we wish you a safe return. Thank you for what you are doing for us!
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