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| DIANA MARTIN photo@chathamdailynews.ca Phene Richardson, left, Violet Verhoog and Virginia Travis are just three of the women involved in quilting for soldiers fighting in Afghanistan |
Spread across Chatham-Kent Quilter's Guild member Phene Richardson's kitchen table are approximately 100 quilt squares. Unlike most squares, these will not be joined to create a larger quilt -- well not directly.
Richardson hopes they will unite Canadian Forces members serving in Afghanistan this holiday season.
"We're hoping to ship them within the next two weeks en masse so they can get them for Christmas," said Richardson.
There are upwards of 30 members working to create the quilt blocks, each the size of a sheet of paper. Each block has a design -flowers, Canadian flags, beavers, moose, and even a camouflaged turkey or two. On the back, the women have penned their thanks and best wishes; others have sewn on poems. Each carries a genuine message of gratitude.
Richardson said the project started in late spring and gained momentum when she made contact with a woman at Canadian Forces Base Trenton who has a son serving in Afghanistan.
Ideally, they want to have 200 squares finished -one for each member of the troop -before they bring them to Trenton, where they will be delivered to the soldiers.
The guild has done quilt projects to remember those who have given their lives, but this year they wanted to change the focus.
"We thought, why shouldn't we remember the ones who are serving now?" said Richardson.
She hopes that the quilts trigger a happy memory of home for the soldiers and a realisation that although they are far from home, they are close in the hearts of the Chatham-Kent Quilter's Guild.
Reprinted with permission
Reprinted with permission
So nice to see you three and that nice article in here. It reminds me that I had better get working on my next little wall hanging.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your hard work!
I would like to see these military related quilts. Could you post them please? I think that is wonderful way to memorialize those who served.
ReplyDeleteI'd also like to note that a very special quilt that is touring Canada, is coming to Chatham. It will be housed at the CK Museum for the month of June. It is a Memory Quilt in honour of 2010, Year of the British Home Child. A Chatham Kent resident (my great uncle) is on this quilt, which has 56 squares, each hold a home child's story/photo. Thought maybe your group would be interested in seeing this quilt.