Wounded Soldier Quilt

When we were researching information online for the helmet liners, we discovered the following project for wounded soldiers on Citizen SAM’s website:

Our wounded soldiers are transported from Iraq and Afghanistan on converted cargo planes which have minimal heat. We want to provide them handmade quilts for warmth and to show them we care. These quilts are also used in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of Combat Hospitals, as part of patient care. The colorful, soft quilts are a stark contrast to their surroundings and thin military blankets, with love and healing in every stitch.

The following quilt guidelines were suggested by the medical community from Combat Support Hospitals:

•  4 ft. x 6 ft. 6 inches. (48 inches by 78 inches, to fit stretchers and gurneys)
• 100% cotton fabric and batting; small blend (80/20) cotton/synthetic batting is acceptable
• Design: patriotic colors/theme(red, white, blue; no children’s cartoons); can be “quick quilts” or more detailed, as desired; “tying”, machine-quilting, and hand-quilting are all acceptable
• Optional: pillowcase (size 20” x 30”), coordinating fabric; adds a special touch and can be used as a package for the quilt.

When you are finished, please e mail info@citizensam.org or call  309-693-9533 to arrange delivery. Shipments can be made directly to: Citizen SAM, P O Box 10565, Peoria, IL 61612

Charlotte and I decided to make one. We picked out the fabrics and then divided up the tasks: Charlotte worked on choosing fabrics to create the specific designs for each block and cut the pieces. I did the sewing and she did the pressing and layout. Oscar and Issie helped with the final quilting stage!

 

This is a quote that describes a specific circumstance:

“We received a few badly injured US soldiers late last night. One was in surgery for several hours, and is very critically injured. We are now sending him for further care back home, through a number of trips. This morning, when I came around the units to see the new admissions, I noticed that he was covered from his feet, up to his chest, in a beautiful red/white/and blue quilt. I am sure he was
warmed by the obvious care and affection you put into making that quilt. At the top of the quilt is pinned his purple heart, given to him by the soldiers of his unit who gathered around his bed, and touched the quilt you made. I wanted you to be aware of this so that you could be proud of your work making a blanket that could never been put to better use than the one it serves now, warming him
in the aircraft home.

We discovered we had enough leftover material to make two quilts. We forgot, however, that the required quilt batting was 100% cotton. We discovered this between quilts. The first quilt with the wrong batting material was donated to a veteran’s home in Bennington,Vermont, with this response:  “The quilt you had donated is currently displayed on a table in the main reception area at the Vermont Veterans’ Home.  Visitors and Veterans think it is beautiful and enjoy it.”