This young soldier was so tickled to recieve his quilt. He was a wonderful young man. He was very social and really took a liking to the kids, then we noticed this beautiful young woman next to him - and it was his wife. They have a 9 month old little guy - boy was he a cutie! He rivals the cuteness of my kids at that age ( you know I had to say that right??!!)~~
He sustained quite a few bullet injures, but the worst was to the head. So he has what they call Traumatic Brain Injury ( TBI), and is really struggling with short term memory. Prior to enlisting he told us he had gone to college to become a teacher... which of course endeared him to the two teachers!
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He told us recovery is very frustrating. He can't remember a lot of simple things. His wife has to label things for him to remember what they are. But this couple was the most gracious couple! They really wanted to take pictures with the student - N - who presented his quilt. This made a big impact on N, and his mom tells me that he came home and researched all sorts of things about Quilts of Valor. He is planning on making another one soon!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the Base there is a place called the War Memorial Gardens. When I went three years ago it consisted of a center informational plaque and one plaque on either side. This garden is to commomorate all fallen soldiers that were stationed at Fort Carson. It now number at 200 soldiers. It is a beautiful memorial, one I know we all wished didn't exist.I hope you are all seeing how important your quilts, fabrics and Long Arming skills are to these soldiers. Although you couldn't be there physically - your spirit was. Thanks again!
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Have a great day!
Alycia
5 comments:
Alycia
I am thankful for these last posts you have put up.. thank you so much for sharing these soldiers stories and thank you to them for allowing them to be shared.. Brain Injury is a horrible thing, we have a friend with a brain injury, as we are so very lucky to have our friend, but he is so different to our 'old' friend, but we are enjoying to get to know our 'new' friend..
quilty huggers to you
Lissa
Ohh, I love that Navy medallian fabric you used.
Blessings to you for sharing.
What a moving story, and the other stories that follow were so touching, as well.
What a neat story.....I recently found out about Quilts of Valor on a cruise and an taking steps to participate.
THANK YOU TO ALL THAT MADE THIS WONDERFUL EVENT POSSIBLE FROM THE WHOLE WIDHALM FAMILY. I TOLD MY BROTHER SFC WIDHALM CURRENTLY SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN, AND IT BROUGHT A TEAT TO HIS EYE ESPECIALLY WHEN I TOLD HIM HOW I HAD GIVEN AWAY MY COMBAT PATCH AND COMBAT ACTION BADGE. BUR, LIKE I SAY THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THIS COUNTRY TRUELY GREAT. THESE CHILDREN, TEACHERS, VOLENTEERS, AND ENTIRE COMMUNITY OR ANYONE I LEFT OUT THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND PS NICOLAUS TAKE CARE OF MY SCREAMING EAGLES PATCH;)
-STAFF SARGEANT WIDHALM
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