Originally published on December 6th @ quiltblock.tumblr.com.
Seventy-five years ago tomorrow, the Japanese attached Pearl Harbor. At least 1,777 people were killed when the USS Arizona, the battleship, was bombed and sank. Along with this devastating loss, 18 other Navy ships were destroyed or mangled, rendered useless. Eight battleships of the Pacific Fleet were also hit, along with 340+ planes.
My grandfather, a submarine captain during the war, lost close friends that day, and went on to experience for himself other atrocities that few Americans of my generation can even imagine. Were he still alive today, I would want to honor him in some meaningful way that he could touch and return to; a gesture of thanks he could really believe in.
Quilts of Valor, the award program involving volunteer quilters from all over the country, provides this service to veterans, and at an impressive scale. As I post this, 312 quilts will have been awarded to a veteran service man or woman this past week alone. Over 150,000 quilts have been awarded in total.
The magnitude and impact of this program can not be overstated, for its ability to express appreciation and gratitude for the service of our men and women in uniform.
Today, on the anniversary of such a horrific event, in both American and Japanese history, consider getting involved with this program - especially those younger readers of BLOCK (and by this I mean those under 50 😉). Today’s veterans, now more than ever, need reality to assert itself in ways that remind them that they are appreciated - that the nation they served takes responsibility for what we asked of them. And I can think of no better symbol for this (aside from our political support for veteran affairs at large) than a heartfelt quilt, made with love.
Quilts of Valor: http://www.qovf.org/