We Have Not Forgotten Even in Sad Times

So hard sometimes to write with so many feelings of sadness but these stories need to be told to show we never forget what is important – our veterans.

We first started January 2023 with our annual Crab feed.  We had one of the worst rain storms of the century but so many still showed up for our crab feed.  We presented three quilts – a Korean veteran, a female Army veteran of 30 years, and a Vietnam veteran with a Purple Heart.  It was a great night but definitely scary trying to get home as the roads were flooded.

Two days later we were prepping for Mom to come home on Hospice.  We had the Xfinity guy come out to get TV set up in her room.  Guess what, Richard was a USMC veteran of the Gulf war so when he finished we took him in the shop and presented him with a quilt.  Next day Mom gets to come home and her first nurse, Ashley, was a Marine veteran so off to the shop we went again.  She was an OIF veteran and was wounded in Iraq.  Her smile showed how pleased she was.  The next day we got Tanya, a Navy veteran and one of the first female military police.  She is now a hospice nurse.  She kept hugging me and saying thank you.  Then in our travels we found Kevin, a USMC veteran with a Purple Heart who had been wounded in the Beirut bombing.  So we presented his quilt at Best RV in Turlock CA.  Even with the shop closed we still find our veterans.

I have tried for over two years to present a quilt to Jerry, a Navy veteran who often does electrical work for free to veterans.  He doesn’t go out much socially but my Sis, Jeannene, knew he was coming to their Crab Feed so she set it up for me to show up and present him a quilt.  It was great.  They called him up front as we hid behind the door then they handed me a mic.  Jerry turned bright red and you could see as he hugged me how happy he was to receive his quilt.  He truly represents what veterans are made of.

So, these last 8 months of losing a sister, a father and mother have been hard but they loved Quilts of Honor and I know they would be proud.

Please be patient with us here in Valley Springs as our lives change and we move forward.  Please keep stitching.  Our quilts are needed.

In Honor and Memory of Diana, Dad and Mom Belmont – you will always be in our hearts.

God’s blessings
Gail

Ashley, Marine Veteran OIF Hospice Nurse

Kevin, USMC Purple Heart, Wounded in Beirut Bombing

Crab Feed – Korean, Vietnam, OEF veterans

Navy Veteran Surprised at Crab feed

Richard USMC Gulf War, Xfinity Tech

Tanya, Navy Veteran, First Female MP

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