Posted on 12/28/2005 5:53:59 PM PST by SandRat
Camp Liberty, Iraq, Dec. 28, 2005 - A retired Florida schoolteacher wants Task Force Baghdad soldiers to have sweet dreams, or, at the very least, lay their heads on brightly-colored pillows each night.
Many people in the United States do whatever they can to help soldiers cope with a deployment by sending care packages and letters of thanks and appreciation.
Debbie Leslie, of Clearwater, Fla., howe'ver, found a unique way of sharing her gratitude for soldiers serving in Iraq with her handmade pillowcases.
"It's so little for me to do, especially if it brings the thought of home and that someone is thinking of them, thanking them, and praying for their safe return," Leslie said.
She spends her free time with a local quilt guild and through her craft finds the time and energy to send batches of pillowcases to soldiers serving in Iraq.
The 71-year-old grandmother of two has close ties to the military. Her son is serving in the Navy. Being the mother of a military man gives her insight into the sacrifices military personnel make each day, she said.
Being creative, Leslie uses different themes and patterns for her pillowcases.
"Most were patriotic, but she also added some patterns that would appeal to females more than males," said Sgt. Robert J. Mayo, operational law noncommissioned officer-in-charge with Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division.
Mayo said that when the pillowcases arrived they were popular with the troops and "were gone in no time."
"I realized there were some NASCAR fans in our group, so I asked her if she could make a couple of NASCAR pillowcases and she was more than happy to make them," Mayo said.
Leslie has sent nearly 100 pillowcases in five separate shipments.
"Everyone I have shown the pillowcases to has loved them," Mayo said. "A lot of soldiers want to get more than one pillowcase."
Aside from pillowcases, Leslie has also made a lot of friends. Many troops regularly exchange letters and e-mail with her.
"It's so little for me to do, especially if it brings the thought of home and that someone is thinking of them, thanking them, and praying for their safe return," Leslie said.
Granny Loves Those in Uniform.
God Bless Grandma!
What a wonderful gift and way to honor our troops!
We have received many handmade pillowcases and quilts for Katrina victims in MS.
It is those special things that remind us that people are thinking of people instead of nameless faces. Whether it they are made for soldiers or victims of hurricane, something made with love and attention is always special.
My Girl Scout troop (2 girls at the time) made 25 quilts for the NICU at the Lucile Packard Salter Children's Hospital a year or so back. The parents are so very greatful knowing that someone else cares about their sick little one.
The girls also got to tour the NICU and see where their handiwork would go. They were in tears by the time we left - as was I - seeing the poor little ones. However, one of the stronger little guys got to tour with us and that was so cool!
OHH how sweett
Alright grandma
what a wonderful thing she is doing
to show support for the troops!
Oh shoot, I was hoping there would be a picture of the pillow cases. What a wonderful thing to do.
Grandma your the greatest.
Tender love has no bounds. God bless her.
BTTT
freeper rules apply here, also, right - pictures?!
Well, they do apply to us but evidently not to the Armed Forces Information Serice; because they didn't have any pictures of this most beautiful Granny for me to post for all to see with her love pillows. How rude of them!
Jim Rob, maybe this is something we need to remind DOD.mil Public Affairs types of; "The Freeper Rules" about Pictures and that they need to remember to comply with those rules. hehehehehe Don't you wish we could and make it stick?
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