In the Strangest Places

 

Many of you have asked – How do I find these Veterans that need a Quilted Hug?

Well – I have been doing this for a long time so many people know me, and know what I do – that helps. My name and number is out there. But here is an interesting one.

A friend of mine had to go to the dentist. She mentioned Quilts, and starting to stitch blocks for our Quilts ( for Military) , and the dental tech started talking about a friend she had, who had a son/soldier, who had just returned from Afghanistan, and he wasn’t having a good time. So my friend got the dental techs friends’ number and told me I needed to call….. did you follow all that?

So I called. I talked to this soldiers Mom and all she could say was – he’s in a bad place and I don’t know what to do. I made the date and time to come to her house …. And away I went.

When I arrived he was out in the yard doing some yard work. He knew a friend of his moms was coming, but didn’t know anything other than that. So imagine his surprise when I introduce myself to his mom. He thought we already knew each other – oops!

I introduced myself to him and of course asked if he had a minute.

Turns out life had been a little rough on him. When he was in country, his driver’s license expired. He was allowed to drive a HumVee in a foreign country, but when he came back here he couldn’t rent an apartment without a valid license. And the DMV was giving him a huge run around since it had expired over a year ago… shame right?

He had so much paperwork and protocol to go thru ( besides the Drivers License) , at the same time suffering from injuries, that it was truly overwhelming to him. I was beyond frustrated for him. But! I also came bearing phone numbers and people that could help get done what needed to be done. So he and I got to calling these people. I had decided that he had so many things that had to be done, and I am an organizer – I was just going to schedule it all.. poor kid… he didn’t know what hit him.

Anyways we had all the appointments set up for the next week. People were working on his list and there was a little light there for him. And then I remembered! I came to wrap him in hugs and love with a Quilt!!

I went back to my car and got the Quilt of Valor® out.  I proceeded to tell him all about it and how I came to his house that day. I told him all about this quilt, and why I thought he really needed it, and I wrapped him up in it. He might have had a little weepy eye going on, but you could tell, that quilt was NOT coming off for a while. I told him every time he thought he needed a little extra love, he needed to wrap himself in it.

Because I just can’t let things go, I called some of our contacts to make sure that he had arrived for his appointments. One of the folks said – Yes he did, and he came with his Quilt.

Now if that just doesn’t make a little ol’ me extremely happy.

And that! Is how I meet Veterans (active duty or not)

A First time for everything

 

A lot of places that I get to go – have Veterans involved. So it comes as no surprise that a lot of times Quilts are involved –

This particular time still has me laughing.

I was invited to come to a family gathering, to award a WWII Veteran a Quilt of Valor. His family was so excited for this to happen, for their dad/granddad/sibling to get recognized for his service in the war.

They knew he served and when he arrived stateside, at the end of his service, he was given $10 and told to get back home. Of course, they deposited him in California –he farmed in Kansas/Colorado. That was not a real close drop off.

And so I arrive at the Gentleman’s house…. fully expecting to make my presentation and leave. Let the family have a party and celebrate. But this young 94 year old gentleman says to me and my husband – you all take a seat over there – I have one more person coming and then I will start my story.

Well Bless his heart – he probably did not know how much I love our Veterans stories so we just settled in and made ourselves at home.

His last guest arrived and this young gentleman got to talking. He told us how he was drafted and sent on a train ride – his first train ride ever – to the west coast. After training there he was sent on a huge plane – his first plane ride ever – to the east coast for water training. After that he was sent on a huge ship – his first ship ride ever – overseas. And then he got to talking about his travels overseas and the things that he did … and lawsy mercy – you could have heard a pin drop. Even his 4 year old great-great grandchild was at attention.

They weren’t told much about where they were going – just put on a ship and told to prepare. And so he did, and his first stop was Leyte in the Philippines – to the Japanese held island – and a Battle to take the island ensued. He had three other such amazing stops, and stories to tell us. We were spellbound.

Then he mentioned being injured, and receiving and award for it – One of us tentatively asked – A Purple Heart? And he said:  Why yes – that is exactly what it was. Would you like to see it? Again – you could have heard a pin drop. No one, not a one of his family members was even aware of the injury or the award.  He brought out other mementos as well, and told stories about each item. I could not have been more excited to learn about this man.

This is why I love our Quilts – I think they bring healing, they bring the stories, and they bring out History. Real History: from the people that made it.

A Laid back Kinda Holiday

 

I met a man, well, a boy really…. Okay – I will guess that judgment comes based on how old you are – but he had already been to war… yet, my own son wasn’t much younger than him. So for this essay – I will call him a man.

I have a feeling that war makes you that way. It makes you a man… maybe even earlier than you would care to have happen.

Anyways this man had a rather hard shell. He seemed to be quite defensive, and maybe, just a little callous. And with most men that had been to war, and with most men sitting around the campfire, the stories are tough. They are dangerous, and they carry a lot of truth to them. As we sat around this fire, and all the men took turns sharing their stories – I couldn’t help but feel that his had some extra significance to it. Maybe a little but more of the angle that he mattered. That he was the key character in the story he was telling. Maybe, forgive the word, some self importance to it.

As the evening drew to a close I found myself drawn to this particular man, and so I headed his way to get to know him better. I struck up a casual conversation, essentially leading to – and what plans do you have for this holiday? To which, he said…. None.

Gulp

None

This brave young warrior who had stepped up for the country I live in, who had answered the call, and left everything behind…. No plans. Alone. No one to hang out with.

To which I said – I have an extra room, how would you like to come with my family. I knew, of course, that such a brave man would probably get flustered and say no. So imagine my surprise when he said – I can be ready in 15 ma’am,

And that is how I had an extra man coming for the holiday! Because I already feed a family that eats like the starved… adding one more was not a problem when it came to food. The problem was – would he like our laid back style of life in the country for the holiday – when he was used to a bustling military base?

Turns out – he did. As we all hiked our property, rode horses, and did some target shooting, this young man’s story came out. He became more willing to talk, and as he became the center of our attentions he began to realize his life did have significance. We let him talk as he wanted, participate as he wanted, and yes – put him to work just like the rest of the gang. He also made a mean Sweet tea.

I was surprised with this young gentleman. Based on the first impression, I could not have realized what an enjoyable person he was, what a sweet spirit he had, and what a fun happy person was hiding under that veneer.

I guess that saying – “Don’t judge a book by its Cover” is for real.

Fast Food Lunches

 

I saw him at a class. He was out of place, he looked like he didn’t want to be there, but he also looked interested… he had kind eyes, and he had a sad smile that made you want to know more.

After class I asked if I could take him to get a meal – anyplace he chose. He said why Yes, I do believe that would be nice… and he chose a fast food restaurant. I don’t know about you, but sometimes when someone offers a meal – I think steak house. Off we went to the fast food restaurant. We happened to be in a city full of Military Members, and as we walked in this Veteran saluted each and every active duty soldier there. He said it made him feel important, as if maybe his service in Vietnam counted for something, as if saying hi, and welcoming these soldiers he could ease their concerns a little.

And, of course, he invited them to eat with us, after all I was buying.

As he sat among these young Soldiers, you could see his eyes light up when they told their stories,  you could see that he knew their experiences that they were sharing, You could see, he felt a part of them, as if he hadn’t been tossed back into society – and left to just grow older. Alone.

When these young soldiers asked him to tell a story about his experience in Vietnam, Oh did his wheels start turning. Which story to tell? What would be the best one to convey he was one of them? And when he told his story, you could see their eyes light up, their nods of understanding, their acceptance, that yes – he was a Solider, and a good one, and he knew…. He knew what it was like for them.

It was a great meal, if not a little more than the cost of a good steak, but all around I was privileged to be a part of it. I was privileged to see a man, who thought he’d been left behind, come out to the forefront.

As I returned him home, he asked if maybe we could share a meal again soon.. and I knew it really meant, could you please not forget me. Remember that I am still important, and that we are still relevant in our throwaway society.

What a privilege it was to meet him for lunch every week –To watch him work his magic on those current Soldiers. To watch his eyes light up as they recognized one of their own. It was a magical.

Surprises and a Farm Story

 

It started with an ad for Farm Implements. We needed some, the ad said they had some – and so we made an appointment to go check them out. The original owner didn’t happen to be there, but he had a neighbor let us in to see them.

You see, when you have a tractor, you start to think that you are a farmer, or maybe a cowboy, and then you start to think of all the fun things you can do with the extra attachments. And when you are the wife, you really start to think of all the things the husband can do…. You know – plow the garden, mow the fence-lines, rake the arena, dig some postholes…..

The gentleman who was showing us the tools started talking, and I started asking more questions about him. It was really fun to hear his stories. And then he said – I am a Vietnam Vet. That just perked my ears right up. So we started talking about Vietnam (the country), and Vietnam (the war). He told us how things had changed for him. What is was like to leave America at that time, and what it was like to come back to America at that time. He didn’t have a lot of anger in him, but you could still hear the hurt and the surprise that our own would treat him not so kindly.

After all – he was drafted by the country he loved, and he served the country he loved. 

As we went home to deliberate the purchase of some of these implements, I had a nagging feeling that he would be willing to accept a Quilt from us – a Quilt of Valor, a special hug that lets one know that they are appreciated, that we do recognize your service – and even better – says Welcome Home Son, Job Well Done.

I was in the middle of finishing up a Quilt, so I put the binding on it, washed it, labeled it and of course, made a pillowcase for it. Quilts in Pillowcases always make me happy. It’s like a little gift all wrapped up in some really cool fabric!

As we drove back the next day to get the items we wanted, he helped us load, and of course, I got to talking with him. He told me even more stories, and what a great story teller he was. I then said – Well Sir – I brought you something. I pulled that Quilt out of its pillowcase and told him the story of it. And of course, let him know that this particular quilt was for him. It was my little way of saying Welcome Home.

You know it was only 100 degrees outside, but I’ll be, he was so ready and willing to have that Quilt wrapped around him – and then he stood there – and told me another story. All the while he had a little precipitation coming down from his eyes.

Best Farm Deal I have ever made.