Make a quilt or a poppy......

Pictured above is my late cousin Rose with her husband of 60+years one year prior to his passing.  Fritz survived D-Day. However, the battle(s) left him permanently disabled.  Because of the age difference between the "Kelly" cousins I never knew them very well until much later in my life.  After getting reacquainted as adults, I was planning a trip to Hancock, MI to give him a red, white and blue quilt I made as one of my first block of the month projects, to say thank you.  Sadly, he passed away days before my trip, but I gave it to Rose.  It's truly amazing how giving someone a quilt brings tears.  She kept that quilt on her bed every night after he passed; she passed away in June.  The spouses are veterans as well.  They struggle with the effects imposed upon their wives or husbands.

This Veteran's Day say thank you to a vet or a family member.

       This blurb is leading up to the Quilts of Valor project that is now 10 years old!  Their website details how many "official" QOV have been given to veterans.  The organization has specific blocks, size and handling instructions on their website.  If you don't want to follow their guidelines, just make a red, white and blue quilt and donate it to a vet or bring it to the Michigsn Home for Veterans in northeast Grand Rapids.  For more information on our facility home for women and men vets check out this website.

Did you know that there was/is an all female American Legion Post?  Read about this event from the Michigan Humanities website:

Celebrate Veteran’s Day with the Michigan Women’s Hall of 

Fame

November 8 in Lansing


Get a sneak preview of our new history exhibit (opening March 2015) about Michigan women veterans and submit your idea for a title.  Michigan women veterans are invited to share a story to include in the exhibit.  Get information and meet members of American Legion Post 535 Nuwarine—the last all-female post in Michigan.  Free admission for veterans and their families.  Visit 
www.michiganwomenshalloffame.org for more information.

I went to the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame website but couldn't find this event specifically, but if
interested here's their site information.

Anybody remember buying red poppy pins to honor the vets?  I do!  My mother would tie up my money in a hanky and pin it to my dress so I couldn't lose it on the way to Arthur School in Detrot.  The Brits still wear them, what happened on this side of the pond?

Here is a craft that's quick and easy and fun to wear:
Red Poppies