The mission of the Quilt of Valor Foundation is ” to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.”  To date the QOV Foundation has awarded over 108,000 quilts to veterans of American wars.   I have been quilting for QOV for about two years, and it is so very rewarding to do some small thing for our service men and women who give so much for our safety and freedom.  To learn more about QOV  go to  their website here.

Last month I was privileged to award a Quilt of Valor to my father-in-law, Gene Wade, who served in the Army’s 11th Airborne Division as a paratrooper.  He was stationed in Japan at the end of WWII.  At the time we gave him the quilt he had just had a stroke, and was in a skilled nursing facility at the time.  They were gracious enough to let us use one of the public rooms for the ceremony.

The quilt we gave him was one that I had done the longarm quilting on.  The quilt top was made by Ruth Dassen, who is a tireless worker when it comes to making Quilts of Valor here in Arizona.  The quilt was beautifully sewn and the quilting added the final touch.

Here is my husband, David, wrapping Gene up in all the warmth and appreciation that is stitched into every Quilt of Valor. Gene and Joy were happy to receive the quilt and appreciation that came along with it.  All the family members wanted to share in the excitement of the day, especially the great-grandchildren!  Thank you, Gene, for your service to our country!