Hugs for our Wounded Warriors—Stitches of Comfort
Modern Day Betsy Rosses Help Heal Wounded Troops
PCM Expo will proudly feature the “God Bless America Touring Quilts” June 24 - 26, 2010, at their Original Creative Festival, in the Sharonville Convention Center.
The theme of these 100 quilts is “How do I Love America—Let Me Quilt the Ways.” These quilts just returned from Camp Stryker in Baghdad where they cheered our troops.
Author Judy Howard challenged children and adults to express their patriotism by entering their 22” quilts by March 31 to tour and later be auctioned. All profits from the auction, $100 exhibit rental (free to military and veterans) and books go to provide quilts for wounded troops and families of the fallen. “With your help, we can wrap our wounded warriors in comforters of love,” Judy said. See www.HeavenlyPatchwork.com for quilt photos, entry and rental forms.
One of those soldiers receiving a quilt was Edmond resident Jack Hayes who was setting up a cannon to defend an airstrip when North Vietnam Regulars burst from the rubber trees twenty feet away, guns blazing. Jack spun around and returned fire before a bullet from an AK47 pierced his stomach and exited through his back. Medevac airlifted Jack to the Saigon Field Hospital where officials quickly honored Jack by pinning on his uniform a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and V for valor. Then they ceremoniously pulled a sheet over Jack’s head . . . pronouncing him dead.
Only by God’s grace did Jack survive that injury which fractured his back, and the Agent Orange that poisoned his organs. During the ensuing years he endured countless complications from the thirty-five major abdominal operations to remove his stomach, appendix and gall bladder. Nonetheless, Jack still radiates the joy of the Lord and praises Him each morning for the blessings of life.
Judy Howard of Buckboard Quilts presented Jack with a replica of a Civil War quilt with an appliqué of an American eagle holding an olive branch of peace in its beak. Mary Chenoweth, great-great-great grandmother of Oklahoma actress Kristen Chenoweth, created an eagle quilt for her son Benjamin Franklin after he left for war in 1862. Benjamin brought his cherished quilt with his wife and sons in a covered wagon caravan to join the Oklahoma Land Run of 1889. They homesteaded farms near Hinton, Indian Territory. That Civil War eagle quilt, which appraised for $8,000 to $12,000, now adorns the cover of Oklahoma Heritage Quilts, and is featured in Centennial Stitches—Oklahoma History in Quilts, Thanking Our Troops and Heavenly Patchwork I & II book by Judy Howard.
When Judy presented Jack his appliquéd eagle, he cried to think that someone would take the time to express gratitude for his military service. That quilt follows him in and out of the hospital as he valiantly fights for his life. When the pain becomes too intense to bear, he strokes the three-dimensional wings as if the eagle gives him energy to soar to higher levels of faith. When Jack’s spirits need lifting, he traces the quilt’s embroidered “Thank You Jack” with his fingers and realizes his 43 years of suffering for his country was not in vain, but documented in this tangible memorial. To Jack Hayes, his eagle quilt is a visual declaration that he has chosen to rise above his suffering on eagles’ wings to live in victory.
Jack’s inspiring story of courageous sacrifice to keep our nation free is but one of many recounted in Thanking Our Troops—God Bless America Touring Quilts with all book and exhibit profits providing more of these comforting quilts for our wounded warriors—our unsung heroes.
Bring your family and friends June 24, 25 and 26, 2010, to the Original Creative Festival, in the Sharonville Convention Center. and let's Celebrate America in Quilts.
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