In the midst of this month-long AQS patriotic celebration, a highlight is remembering our own families who have been in military service. Remember these fine soldiers with us AND learn how to make a Tribute quilt of your own with a FREE PATTERN.
Click HERE for your FREE PATTERNĀ for a 3 block x 3 block Tribute quilt of your own.
We’re pleased to include in our example quilt above some of the AQS family members who have served in the armed forces. We couldn’t include all of the photos within the quilt image, so you are welcome to take a look at the AQS scrapbook of beloved military family members below. We are thankful for the freedom we possess because of these fine men and women!
Bill Schroeder (right and left) was a U.S. Army Engineeer stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, 1952-1954. He served in Labrador during the Korean Conflict.
We love these snapshots of Charley Lynch’s dad, Dale Lynch, a sergeant in the U.S. Army from Springdale Arkansas. These photos are from WWII.
Lynn VanVactorās father, James VanVactor, worked behind enemy lines as an Army intelligence officer in World War II, James VanVactor helped Allied forces liberate the fortified stronghold of Metz, France. Following the success of that mission and the end of the war, VanVactor was appointed to the Presidential Guard. He was selected to guard President Roosevelt on his trip to Mexico, remaining about eight feet from the president at all times.
Sylvia Thomasās father, Billy Joe Riley, EN1, retired from the Navy after 21 years. He served during the Korean War.
William Nottingham, Military Police, 27th Infantry is Lauren McKendreeās grandfather.
Mindy Burchās brother, USAF SSGT Marty Ron Jacobs, was in the U.S. Air Force from 2003-2009.
Michael Buckinghamās wife, Paulette Buckingham, served in the U.S. Army for 20 years.
These are photos of Melissa Wintersā brother, Andrew Fetch. He was in the U.S. Navy from 2007 – 2011 on a nuclear sub, the USS San Juan. He was deployed in 2009 for a six month tour.
Ann Hammelās dad, SSGT Harold Hammel, served during WWII in the U.S. Army 37th Division. He entered the Army just a week before the Pearl Harbor attack and found himself headed out on a ship to the South Pacific right after boot camp.
Bonnie Browning’s husband, Wayne Browning, was aĀ U.S. Army Spec/5 in Intelligence who served in VietNam and went back to school (University of Iowa) on the GI Bill to complete his degree. He always enjoyed reunions with his fellow vets. Many quilters remember him, as he worked at countless QuiltWeek events.
Angela Henry’s proud family of veterans includes the following five veterans:
Domenick DiPaolo, a USMC Sergeant, served 6 years including Operation Iraqi Freedom, Haditha, al Anbar Province, Iraq.
Domenick’s father and mother, Pete and Carolyn, are pictured here,. Pete DiPaolo served in the U.S. Navy forĀ 23 years, retiring as a Lieutenant. He served in Multi-National Peacekeeping Force in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1983.
Judy Schwarzengraber Barnes served in the U.S. Air Force for 15 years, E6/TSgt. She deployed to Aviano AB in support of Operation Northern Watch.
Mark Barnes retired from the U.S. Air Force for 26 years. He was an E8/SMSgt, serving in Qatar and Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, RAF Lakenheath in support of Operation Deny Flight, and Qatar in support of Operation Rugged Nautilus.
and Michael Ellis.
T.M. Parker, Jr., Timberly Parker’s father, served in the U.S. Navy during WWII.
Here is T.M (right) along with his brother (left) William Allen Bailey Parker who served in the U.S. Army in WWII. He is still alive at 93. Seated in front, their father Thomas Matthew Parker, Sr., who served in France in the U.S. Army during WWI.
Timberly’s nephew, Brian Wayne Krueger was a presidential guard under President Clinton after serving in the Persian Gulf Conflict.
Timberlyās niece, Ashley Nicole (Krueger) Diveley served in the U.S. Air Force in Iraq. She met and married her husband Zachary Diveley while they were in the Air Force.
And her stepfather, Melvin Charles Johnston..The photo above was taken when he was stationed in Vietnam.
Michelle Thompsonās grandfather, Edward OāNeil Thompson, a PFC in the U.S. Air Force who served in WWII and Japan. Hereās a photo of him enjoying his favorite hobby, fishing.
We’re proud of our family members who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, and we hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane through our little scrapbook. Now get out the albums and boxes, relive the memories in your own family, put them on fabric, and make them into a quilt! What a beautiful way to pay tribute in a small way to those who gave so much.
>>ann.hammel@americanquilter.com
I can’t get find or get the link for the Free Pattern for the Military Tribute that was supposed to come out today. Can you help me?
Sheila, I have sent a PDF to your email address. I’m sorry the link in the blog did not work for you. Let us know if you need anything else. ~ Sylvia Thomas, AQS Social Media Manager
What a wonderful tribute to all these, who have served our nation so well.
Amen! I appreciate those who serve our country.
I did not understand instructions for getting free quilt pattern. I hope you will send it to met e-mail address, as well.
Barbara, I have sent the PDF to your email address. Let me know if you need anything else. ~ Sylvia Thomas, AQS Social Media Manager
Thank you for sharing this beautiful tribute. I belong to a Quilts of Valor group.
This was do on touching! Knowing so many of you made this even more special. Thank you!
Thanks for taking the time and space so that I too could honor these wonderful Americans. Really appreciate the info, the photos and seeing the love for them and our Nation. If only……
Thank you for such a fine tribute to our military. I was able to access the pattern and hope to be able to put it together soon. My husband is a retired Marine — he spent 23 years in the Corps and spent some time in Viet Nam.
I think I did everything I could to download this pattern, but never could get it. Wonder what I am doing wrong?
Hi Sandy, I’ve emailed this pattern to you. You may need to update your Adobe Acrobat Reader. Enjoy the pattern! Thanks, Betsey
This was a most welcome tribute and very deserving of all our veterans that have served and are still serving for us today. I am a very active participant of a wonderful Quilts of Valor group here in MO that meets twice a month for a full day to sewing and quilt on donated quilt tops for our veterans. We have presented over 2,400 quilts so far just from our group (we number about 100+) ladies and are very actively trying to cover our veterans with love from our heart. We do mostly hand quilted quilts.
I am very pleased that your group is so large and that you do hand quilting! That is amazing and wonderful. I can imagine the prayers that go into every stitch. Hand quilting is a wonderful thing. Especially when you are working with others. I’ve lost my quilting buddies. It was a special time for us. Not to say that machine quilting isn’t special. I just haven’t been able to do it well.
Truly appreciated the pictures and stories. We are a retired military family. Many of the men and women in my and my husband’s family have served in different branches of the military.
Thank you for sharing all these photos and stories. My family has stories too, and seeing others is like more family.