I became a member of Quilts of Valor in Maine after attending a national sew day in 2021. After meeting Donna and Teresa, I wanted to help anyway I could.
My son is a Marine and I had made him a quilt while on leave in 2019 for his birthday. He stuffed it tightly into his duffle bag and took it wherever he was stationed. I feel so close to QOV story.
I learned to sew in home economics class in high school. I wasn’t very good, but I kept trying. My grandmothers sewed. My cousin, grandmother and i went to quilt shows and fabric shops and was inspired. Each night as the kids were winding down for the day, I would sew for an hour. With practice, my sewing got better and through the years it has been my therapy.
There is a certain comradery in sewing together. Meeting veterans and their families, and like- minded sewers has been amazing. In all the blood, sweat and tears, the heart leaves a mark on each quilt as it is given, to give comfort to the recipients. We remember and honor those who sacrificed their lives for us.