American Hero Quilts

Seattle P-I & www.americanheroquilts.com ^ | 5/18/2005 | Fred Hansen

[Fred Hansen]

American Hero Quilts

SeattlePI, October 8, 2004 M.L.Lyke, Reporter

VASHON ISLAND, WA--The story of 100 quilts begins with two hands and one tragic tale.

The hands belong to Sue Nebeker.

The tale belongs to a stranger from east of the mountains, Ken Dennis, a 22-year-old combat rifleman who came home from Iraq a troubled soul. "I just don't want to see 23 after all this," he told his parents. Nebeker, 53, read the story of the young Marine -- abandoned by his wife, haunted by scenes of war -- in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer Aug. 13. Dennis hanged himself March 21, exactly one year after the first combat Marine deaths in Iraq. "It almost killed me, it made me so sad -- for someone not even 23 to feel such despair, such hopelessness," Nebeker said.

She cried. She railed. She lay awake at night. And then she took action -- action that comes full circle today when Nebeker and husband Clark deliver 100 red, white and blue quilts to Fort Lewis' Madigan Hospital. Officers there will distribute the quilts to injured soldiers returned from Iraq.

Story continued [URL=http://www.americanheroquilts.com/story.htm]here[/URL]. ____________________________________________________________

Mrs. Sue Nebeker and her friend Mrs. Mary Jacobs came to our local American Legion Post tonight to thank us for the donation we gave her quilting group, and to share with us several of the very moving experiences they have had since undertaking this project.

I thought that those who value the freedom - without regard to partisan politics - that American service men and women protect and defend with their lives would appreciate the hard work and love that has gone into these heartfelt gestures of comfort and caring.

If you would like to help these folks you can find more information [URL=http://www.americanheroquilts.com/help.htm]here[/URL].

[Fred Hansen]

Personally I think we are blessed as a nation to have such wonderful people as Mrs. Nebeker and the men and women who do this angelic work. Agree or disagree, I think we can all take something positive from their story.

[GailA]

Thanks for posting this it's important to remember our Vets whenever possible. I belong to the American Legion Ladies Aux. and we make lap throws or quilts for the spinal cord unit of the VA hospital here in Memphis. I turn in 1-2 each month. We provide 60 each year.

[Wneighbor]

I think I have to look into doing this. I have seen you posting about your quilts but didn't know they were for VA hospital patients. I am in the middle of moving and finding a new job, all my sewing paraphenalia is packed and in storage right now - but when I get back to a job and get a new place to live that stuff will all come out again and I may be contacting you looking for guidance.