Quilts of Valor

I have been named the Tennessee Regional Coordinator for Quilts of Valor.  I had the honor of presenting my first two quilts on Saturday at the Tennessee Smokies Salute to Heroes Night. 





I had a table on the concourse telling people about the Quilts of Valor Foundation.

The first presentation was to the team physician. He was a full time medic deployed with a MASH unit, but now he is in the reserves and takes his turn in the rotation as he is an orthopedic surgeon. He says he will be going back to Afghanistan sooner rather than later. He didn't know he was receiving a quilt until I told him. (I let the goose out of the bag.). He told me he didn't deserve to receive a quilt like this. I told him yes he did because of all the sacrifice that he has made for our country. This presentation was made before the game on the field. I didn't have to talk for this one, as they had to keep a very tight time schedule and we (the announcer and I) had already decided what he was going to say. It was a very humbling and special first presentation.

The second presentation was at the top of the 7th inning. It was to a World War II Purple Heart veteran. He had just gone overseas and he was wounded. He had to have his leg amputated. There were problems and he have to have the rest of his leg amputated. He was only nineteen years old at the time. That happened 67 years ago. I tried to talk when they had the microphone in front of me. I got out "I would like to present this quilt to.....then I forgot everything I was going to say. Luckily my husband was in front of me taking pictures and he mouthed "Purple Heart" so I got out Purple Heart and I looked at him again like now what. He mouthed "recipient" and I said recipient and then the rest just flowed from there. I'm so glad that he was there in front of me. When I got done my recipient turned to me and said he was so grateful that someone thought enough of him to nominate him for the quilt. He said through tears that he was going to use it while he watched TV in the evenings. He said that when he passed, he was going to have it go to his great granddaughter.

I was on the news that night for all of maybe 10 seconds but you can see the news broadcast at the link below.

http://www.local8now.com/sports/headlines/Smokies_honor_all_branches_of_military_with_Salute_to_Heroes_Night_160978835.html

Have a wonderful 4th of July.  Be safe and God Bless America!!!

Sandy