Quilts reach wounded soldiers

Wednesday, September 7, 2005
This quilt was made by Kerin Hatch, of Nevada, who had her husband help with the design of the quilt. The pattern originally came from a designer named Eleanor Burns. The pattern is called the Tennessee Waltz. This quilt will be sent to a wounded soldier in the future.

By Afton Bugg

Nevada Daily Mail

Kerin Hatch, of Nevada, got involved with Quilts of Valor after her work with the Quilted Hug project. Through this effort -- her own brainchild, spearheaded by her daughter Ann Jones of Nevada and others in the area -- she and other quilters from around the region constructed more than 400 quilts to send to the National Guardsmen in Company A's 735th Battalion last year, as a lasting gesture of caring and comfort.

Afterwards, Hatch had heard of another effort, Quilts Of Valor, which involved making quilts for soldiers.

Hatch said, "I wasn't ready to stop soldiers quilts, so I jumped on the bandwagon again!"

Hatch also won a prize for the QOV challenge. From January to May of 2005, there were more than 2,000 quilts made for this challenge that were sent to wounded soldiers.

Her efforts helped get more quilts to the soldiers.

"I don't count the quilts I make. I just keep sewing." says Hatch.

There are numerous volunteers -- thousands, in fact, nation wide -- who help with this cause. Most sew the quilts themselves, but others, sometimes called quilt-toppers or longarms, only sew parts of the quilts and then someone else finishes it.

Quilts of Valor has been in existence since November 2003. Their mission is to provide all our wounded warriors from our nation's war on terror with the comfort of a quilt. Their mission also included teaching our kids how to sew. This skill will ensure future generations of such quilts could be created for future wounded servicemen and women.

Catherine Roberts, of Seaford, Del., started this organization. She had a son in Iraq and a daughter in military school.

This organization is now getting some well-deserved national coverage. These quilts are made for wounded soldiers.

For every death there are 10 wounded. Roberts now has 24 military hospitals and various veterans groups around the country to which she sends quilt..

For more information on Quilts of Valor, visit the group's Web Site at www.quiltsforsoldiers.com.

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