Welcome to "Quilts of Honor - the Travis Project"







Quilts of Honor - the Travis Project, was created out of a desire to honor not only the memory of SSG Travis Hunsberger, but to show honor and respect to the men and women he served with. I made a quilt for Steve & Ronda, Travis' parents, and presented the idea of making more quilts for the soldiers at Fort Bragg. There are numerous wonderful organizations who provide quilts to wounded and hospitalized soldiers, but I felt led to do something different. We decided our first project would be to provide a quilt to each of the men in Travis' unit at the time of his death. Our goal was to accomplish this by Christmas. I am happy to report that we have exceeded our goal, and on December 10 2008, two men from our church, Wakarusa Missionary, headed off to North Carolina to deliver 19 quilts!! In May of 2009, we were able to deliver another 33 quilts!! Since then, we have delivered approximately 40 more quilts to families of the fallen and also to Wounded Warriors. Your help is still needed in lots of ways if we are to keep this project ongoing. First and foremost, pray for these brave men and women who serve each day to keep us free and protect us from those who would seek to do our nation harm. If you are a sewist or quilter, I can use you, if you would like to donate fabric or funds, I can use you. If you'd like to leave an encouraging word, or perhaps you knew Travis and would like to share a memory, I can use that too!



For more information on how you can help, contact me through this blog, by phone @ 574-849-7930, or by email, mamabech@msn.com.



To mail donations, send them to:



Quilts of Honor, c/o Dawn Bechtel, P.O. Box 613, Wakarusa, IN 46573. (Checks should be made out to Quilts of Honor.)



Thanks for stopping by, God bless you, and God Bless America!







Monday, May 25, 2009

Memorial Day. . .

Memorial Day. . .what does that mean? This year it means something a little different to me, or maybe I just have looked at it a little differently. I spent today finishing up the quilts for our second phase of this project, adding labels, printing the information flyers, stitching the names of the soldiers receiving the quilts onto pillowcases. As I did so something was different, I was stitching names of several who have given their lives for me...and for you...the first time I did this project, it was for the men who served with Travis, all still with us, thank the Lord. Six of these quilts will go to family of men who didn't come home...I don't ever want to take for granted the sacrifices made by the men and women and their families who serve and protect us on a daily basis. I found myself thinking of the men I met in February, and thanking God again for their lives, and their willingness to go where I won't. I thought of Travis, so young, so full of life, and he gave it all, willingly. Today his mother buried her father...so much sadness in a year's time. And I will unashamedly admit, I wept...tears of sorrow for the losses we have faced, and tears of thankfulness for those who have served in the past and who do so now. Saying "Thank-you" just doesn't seem like enough. I did something else today I don't normally do, I put flowers on my daddy's grave...he's been gone for 35 years now but he proudly served his country during WWII. I honored his service and his memory today. Whatever your beliefs, there is one thing nobody can deny, without the soldiers of the past and present, we would not have the freedoms we enjoy today. So, the next time you see a man (or woman) in uniform, take time to shake their hand and say thank-you. For me personally, I want to say "Thank-you" to Kyle, Patrick, Ron, Mike, Brian S., Brian D., Chris, Tony, Ramone, David, & Luis for allowing me to put a face to those who serve, you are all special and unique and I am honored to know you!
I will be leaving tomorrow evening for North Carolina to deliver quilts, 31 total. So many people have pitched in and helped make this possible, it is incredible the way it came together!! I am excited to be able to visit Ft. Bragg and honored to be attending a memorial service while there. I will also, along with the Hunsberger's, get a chance to spend some time with Travis' unit again. Can't wait to meet their families!! I will post pictures of quilts and the trip when I get back.
God bless you all, and God bless America!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Dawn:
May god continue to Bless you for your wonderful efforts to show kindness to our protectors. Keep up the great work.
Dave P