Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Special Thanks from the 455th CASF


SPECIAL THANKS FROM THE 455TH CASF

Dear American Hero Quilters,
On behalf of the 455th CASF currently deployed to Bagram Airfield, here in Bagram, Afghanistan. I just want to express our sincere gratitude for a box we recently received from you! On request for additional blankets, ask and you shall receive, we were beyond surprised and touched when a box of your quilts arrived!
Although I know your quilts were not directly intended to arrive at our doorstep, they are going to some of the most deserving wounded warriors in the world right now. Our CASF, or Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility is responsible for the reception of all patients needing higher levels of medical care for the entire theater of Afghanistan. Wounded troops are sent here from the outlying areas as part of the rapid escalation of care for those wounded in combat. However our primary mission and responsibility is to ensure these heroes get started on their journey home. The first stop on that journey for these soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines is Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. We plan, and coordinate at least five flights out to Germany a week ensuring excellent medical care is continued from the ground her in Bagram to the air while in transport. We prepare their records and ready their needed medications, equipment and supplies for the eight hour trip. We then lift every litter, and bring every patient out to the aircraft they will start their long road to recovery on, which is where your quilts have come into play.
As we have fully entered the winter months here in Afghanistan, the cold weather is felt by all, but none more than the wounded warriors we transport. Each night as we load up patients to fly out, they spend a fair amount of time outside enroute to the aircraft. The aircraft used for these trips stays quite cold for the long trip, so each patient leaves our CASF with a blanket of some kind in hand. On behalf of everyone here at the CASF, it has been an absolute privilege to place your quilts on some of our most severely wounded troops since your box arrived. The looks on their faces as they realize the handmade blankets are theirs to keep has been priceless. And although many of our patients are unaware they are even being sent to Germany due to their condition, it warms our hearts to send them with a patriotic gift from home when we can’t send them with much else.

Your quilts have undoubtedly touched thousands since you began your endeavor. I just wanted you to know how far and wide your beautiful works of art are reaching, even to the mountains of Afghanistan. We cannot thank you enough for your support of our mission, but most importantly our wounded heroes we are honored to care for.

Sincerely,
Elsie
1LT, Army Nurse Corps
455th CASF, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan

“No duty is more urgent that that of returning thanks”
Authur unknown

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

The Stanwood-Camano Hero Quilters

The Stanwood-Camano Hero Quilters' next sew day is Saturday February 20th at the Stanwood Senior Center from 10-4. We meet in the Social Room next to the Thrift Store. The address is 7430 276th St NW Stanwood. For more information contact Sharon Szekely 360-387-4800, sharonsseams2b@peoplepc.com
We meet once a month usually at the Senior Center. A couple times a year at Aunt Mary's Quilt shop at Smokey Point. We always have lots of fun & good food. We also have a small cookbook of our favorite "sew day" recipes for sale.

Friday, January 15, 2010

News from Afghanistan

Sue writes:

The first shipment of quilts made it to Afghanistan! The superintendent responsible for staging at Bagram wrote to say that they were thrilled by the quilts. He said that "They are one of the most impressive patriotic things I have seen in my 23+ years of service.

An EMT aboard one of the medi-vac planes wrote to say that he wished he had been allowed to take pictures. He said that the wounded warriors were all covered with our quilts and it was a fabulous sight to see. Several of them read the label and just smiled.

I couldn't be more thrilled. This is what it is all about.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Upcoming AHQ Events - Vashon Island Sew-A-Thon and Pacific Beach Retreat

Vashon Island Quilt-a-thon:

There will be a quilt-a-thon for American Hero Quilts on Jan. 25, 26, 27 at the VFW hall on Vashon Island. The hall is at the top of Morgans Hill on Vashon Highway, just north of Burton. We will start at 9am and go until we drop. Please bring 2 1/2" strips of red, white and blue fabric and of course your sewing equipment. Please bring a lunch so that you can eat when you want to. For more info you can reach me (Margaret Bickel) at 206-567-4142 or at margbickel@aol.com


Pacific Beach Retreat:

A two day American Hero Quilt Retreat will be held at Pacific Beach Conference Center, Pacific Beach, WA, on Sunday, January 31, and Monday, February 1, 2010. For more information email ione@ionewhitney.com or call Ione Whitney at 360-908-4692.

We hope to see you at these events!

Monday, December 14, 2009

We want to hear from you!

If you have an AHQ event planned, or already had an AHQ event that you would like to tell us about, please email us at helpinghands@americanheroquilts.com. As we get more items we will try to post a calendar at the beginning of each month, letting you know about upcoming AHQ events.

Thank you to all those who have regular AHQ events and help keep the quilts rolling in! We look forward to hearing from you!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Debbie Mumm mentions us in her new book!

A new book by Debbie Mumm was published in September titled I Care With Quilts: Sewing to Make a Difference, and she mentions American Hero Quilts in the forward. If you are looking for fun and easy patterns to inspire you, this book will do the trick. Thank you, Debbie, for spreading the word of American Hero Quilts and we look forward to many fun (and productive!) sewing days with your new book!

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Thank you for your support!

A big Thank You to all those who attended the fundraisers at Sound Foods today! We had a lovely tea in the afternoon and a party with wine and delicious appetizers in the evening. We hope everyone is enjoying their purchases from the silent auctions.

As part of the afternoon tea, AHQ presented a Naval service member with a quilt and reminded us why we were there. Thank you notes from prior recipients were posted around the room along with some of the quilts that will soon make their way to returning service members.


Thanks also to Sound Food Catering and Events for the food and a great venue, and to the amazing volunteers that worked the events.