About Virginia Memorial Quilt
Project
Mission Statement
To present a numbered memorial quilt to the immediate
family of each Serviceman or Servicewoman with connections to the
Commonwealth of Virginia who gave his or her life in the Iraq War.
The Virginia Memorial Quilt Project is a NONPARTISAN,
NON-POLITICAL, organization aimed at supporting the families of
Virginia's fallen heroes who have paid the ultimate sacrifice with their
life.
We are managed by dedicated quilters who are patriotic
volunteers who want to ensure that Virginia military family members in
all branches of service who have lost a member of their immediate family
in the Iraq War are presented a numbered memorial quilt.
Left to Right:
Susan Emory, Owner of Quilters Corner
Sandie Terrien, VMQP Volunteer
Estelle Davis, Vice Chairman of Virginia Memorial Quilt Project
Sue Cooper, VMQP Volunteer
Joyce Brown, VMQP Volunteer
Joyce Birch, VMQP Volunteer
How this Project got started and one of our voluteers...
The
weekend of July 21-23, 2006 about a dozen FCQ members met at the home of
Debbie Elam and planned a strategy. We came up with 5 totally finished quilts
and made 5 tops and have about 6 more in various stages.
Debbie had Camp Valor signs to welcome us
when we arrived, dog tags with our names on them and our paper plates
was camouflage. We had a military schedule to follow with taps, revile
and mess call to meals. Needless to say we were laughing a lot, being
goof, but having a good time. Estelle Davis (Debbie's mom) was the
General barking out orders and keeping us all at the machines and
cutting tables.
Left
is Estelle Davis, VMQP Vice Chairman with Sharon Patterson, mother of
Jayton Patterson KIA in Iraq.
Sharon has joined as a volunteer of the Virginia Memorial Quilt
Project. We welcome her with open arms and admire her for her strength.
She has gone through some difficult days, but she said "I am
ready to give back now."
How long with this Project take?
This is not a project that will be
completed in a few weeks...it will take months to do. Sad to say the
current number of about 90 will increase. It would be really nice to
have a reception for any family members that can attend for a
presentation later on. We are securing a military advisor to help us
obtain the names, addresses and other info we will need to do this. If
you know of any military leaders, retirees, civic or church groups that
may want to help us get this put together have them contact Debbie Elam.
PLEASE each chapter consider helping make
this happen by having a committee to set up workshops to make tops. We
will ask our longarm quilters to donate quilting, perhaps the quilt
shops can donate a bit of fabric and I'm sure all of us have fabric in
our stash we can give.
The approximate size of each quilt should
be 72x90. Quilts are needed for mothers, wives and fathers, so all
styles, colors and patterns are needed. Lets make this happen!
Movie of Memorial Quilt Meeting
Debbie Elam, Chairman
Estelle Davis, Vice Chairman
Jackie Jones, Advisor and Webmaster
Sandie Terrien, Advisor
