Free Republic

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2006 – Karen Stark never liked to sew. But thanks to her efforts, deployed servicemembers throughout the world are getting handmade "cool ties." Hazel Houck uses a donated sewing machine to make a cooling tie in Edmond, Okla. Houck volunteers with "The Hugs Project," sending polymer gel neck scarves and helmet inserts to deployed troops. Courtesy photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The Oklahoma woman has found her mission organizing groups through "The Hugs Project," a nonprofit organization manufacturing reusable neck scarves and helmet liners with polymer gel inserts that keep cold for hours at...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2006 – The Information Age has helped give birth to a global sewing circle creating unique clothing to fit America's wounded troops as they heal. From left, Air Force Maj. Sandra Edens, Diane Sward and MeAe Wosika modify clothes for wounded troops at their weekly gathering in Alexandria, Va., Feb. 14. These ladies are members of "Sew Much Comfort," a group modifying clothes to fit wounded servicemembers as they recover. Courtesy photo   With an executive director in Ohio, a president in Minnesota, and over 300 seamstresses scattered throughout the world, the members of "Sew Much Comfort"...

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...