Celebrating America
in Quilts
By Judy Howard, 'The Quilting Queen'

“How do I love America? Let me quilt the ways” is the theme of the 'God Bless America 22” Touring Quilts' that are criss-crossing America for 4 years with all profits from the accompanying book 'Thanking Our Troops—God Bless America Touring Quilts' and $100/week-end rental fee going to non-profit groups like Quilts of Valor, Marine Quilts, Quilts for Injured Soldiers, Kid Comfort Quilts, Home of the Brave Quilts, or local quilt guilds and churches who provide quilts for wounded troops and families of the fallen. These pictorial or traditional quilts capture the essence of “America the Beautiful” by paying tribute to our American Heroes, Troops, and depicting “Liberty and Justice for All,” or expressing flag-waving loyalty to our “One Nation Under God.”

We now have over 200 quilts made by people across the nation from a 6 year old boy to 91 year great-great grandma. We’re still taking entries. You don’t have to be a quilter and it’s the perfect way to teach patriotism to your children and grandchildren, as a family project or in classrooms and Boy Scout or brownie groups. These 22” art pieces can be painted, fusible fabric collages, embroidered, cross stitched, or memorialize your ancestors who defended our freedom in past wars by scanning vintage photos and printing on photo transfer paper—anything goes. Quilt photos, entry and rental forms and calendar of future exhibits are on the website. We encourage each of you to express your patriotism to thank  our troops and their families for their sacrifices by entering your quilts and reserving the exhibit for your next patriotic event or quilt show. With your help we can blanket America with love of God and country and hugs for our heroes.

'Thanking Our Troop—God Bless America Touring Quilts' contains heart-warming stories of the 200 Patriotic Quilts that are touring the US for 4 years with all profits from the books and $100 exhibit fees going to non-profit groups who make quilts for wounded troops and the families of the fallen.

I’d like to tell you about one of these wounded soldiers:
Edmond resident Jack Hayes was setting up a cannon to defend an airstrip when North Vietnam Regulars burst from the rubber trees twenty feet away, guns blazing. Jack spun around and returned fire before a bullet from an AK47 pierced his stomach and exited through his back. Medevac airlifted Jack to the Saigon Field Hospital where officials quickly honored Jack by pinning on his uniform a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and V for valor. Then they ceremoniously pulled a sheet over Jack’s head .  . pronouncing him dead.

Only by God’s grace did Jack survive that injury which fractured his back, and the Agent Orange that poisoned his organs. During the ensuing years he endured countless complications from the thirty-five major abdominal operations to remove his stomach, appendix and gall bladder.  Nonetheless, Jack still radiates the joy of the Lord and praises Him each morning for the blessing of life.