THE 2010 CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF A VIRGINIA SOLDIER
With all the planning and decorating completed, the morning of Saturday, June 19, 2010 was finally here.
Our volunteers remained calm knowing that the program would begin at 12:00 noon.
The honored families and honored guests began arriving at 11:00am and we enjoyed meeting many new attendees to our annual Celebration for the very first time. The program began and the Battlefield VFW Post 9808 Posted the Colors as the group stood and following the Posting of the Colors, was lead in the Pledge of Allegiance by Retired Viet Nam Veteran Dan Blaquiere and Autumn Bartlett.
Candice Shelton, Education Director gave the guests a brief review of the Virginia War Memorial activities and invited all to attend the Grand Opening of the Phyllis and Paul Galanti Education Center Family Day Open House on Saturday, September 18, 2010 from 10am to 4:00pm and also to attend a concert by the Virginia Military Institute Concert Band at the Virginia War Memorial on Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 2:00pm. She also asked if anyone would be interested in volunteering at the Virginia War Memorial, please sign the sheet at the back table.
Jon C. Hatfield, Executive Director of the Virginia War Memorial gave the group an update on the construction of the Phyllis and Paul Galanti Education Center and invited all to attend the many events at the Virginia War Memorial throughout the year. Jon announced that when the VMQP no longer needs to make and present quilts, that all of our records are going to be archived in the Library at the Virginia War Memorial.
The next item on the agenda was to present the Battlefield VFW Post 9808 a Certificate of Appreciation from the Virginia Memorial Quilt Project for co-hosting the 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 Celebration of the Life of a Virginia Soldier. A special Certificate of Appreciation was presented to Boyd Burnette and Betty Wright for helping us coordinate and organize our events since 2007. They both were instrumental in our success since 2007.
Debbie Elam introduced the Volunteers of the Virginia Memorial Quilt Project who were in attendance today. She also mentioned that there were many other Volunteers who make this project possible who were unable to attend today.As a surprise to everyone, Debbie Elam asked her husband Nick, Jon Hatfield and Candice Shelton of the Virginia War Memorial to come to the podium. Debbie and Nick Elam presented Jon and Candice with a check for a memorial brick to be made and placed on the walkway at the Virginia War Memorial and it will have the inscription “VIRGINIA MEMORIAL QUILT PROJECT”. Jon and Candice gracefully accepted the contribution and said that this brick in the walkway will hold a high place of honor.
It was with honor and privilege that Debbie Elam introduced BG Karen LeDoux, Commander of the 94th division, Force Sustainment, United States Army Reserve Center at Fort Lee. General LeDoux gave a wonderful uplifting address that uniquely compared the many pieces in a quilt to the many events of a soldier life and how each part of a soldier’s life could be represented by the quilt. She expressed her gratitude for the many hours it takes to create such a beautiful work of art and present it the families of our fallen heroes.
VMQP Volunteers Sandie Terrien, Paula Bartlett, Angie Goff & Tess Thomas read each name of our 160 soldiers to whom we have honored by presenting a numbered memorial quilt to their family.
Staff Sergeant Duane Bartlett gave a very special blessing and lead us in prayer before having lunch. Volunteer Steve Goff came to the podium after lunch and presented the Missing Man Ceremony.
Debbie Elam announced that the Virginia Memorial Quilt Project began in 2006. As of the 2007 Celebration we had presented 60 quilts, as of our 2008 Celebration we had presented 120 quilts, as of our 2009 Celebration we had presented 136 quilts and as of this year we have presented 160 quilts. Then Debbie announced that our Volunteer Sue Cooper has designed an original quilt pattern that will be copywritten and the first in a series of Virginia Memorial Quilt Project Quilt Designed. The name of the pattern is “REMEMBERANCE”…which is very appropriate as the beautiful quilt is made of red, white and blue fabrics.
Debbie Elam introduced Paul E. Galanti, Commander, United States Navy (Retired) and Paul gave a wonderful presentation on his military career.
In closing the group read the Irish Blessing and remained, enjoyed desserts and visited with each other. There is so much effort that goes into putting on this Celebration and there are Volunteers who are just unable to attend as they are scattered across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Their quilting talents are a hidden, but vital part of the success of the Virginia Memorial Quilt Project…even though they are not present in person, they are present in spirit. We know how much the families of our fallen appreciate this day and have a chance to come together to remember their sons, daughters, husbands, wives, mothers and fathers.