Presentation of the Quilt of Valor

Hi!  I was able to present my Quilt of Valor to its recipient today, and I wanted to share the photos and his information.  During the week, I also was able to get some great pictures of it, in honor of the recipient.  If you want to read the post about making the quilt, it's here.

I met Fr. Timothy Valentine when he was assigned to St. Anne's Church in Garden City, which is my home parish.  I was baptized there, so it's been my church forever.  They have a program called Senior Scene, an activity I bring Mom and my brother's mother-in-law, Mom's friend, Helene to.  It's a social time for them, with cake and coffee or tea, and then Bingo, every 2 weeks during the school year.  Fr. Tim was moderator while he was at St. Anne's, and was very supportive of my efforts as caregiver to my mom, who has Alzheimer's, and the issues caused by my 3 other brothers.  His time and compassion, calmly listening to my frustrations and just being a friend meant so much to me.  Then he met Helene and they became instant friends.  He spoke of his military service with her, because her grandson is now a Marine.  Helene is Jewish, and he made an extra effort to visit her when she was in the hospital last February.  Our church does a special presentation for Veterans, and he was honored among the others.  When Jenn from The Dizzy Quilter asked fellow Island Batik Ambassadors to make a Quilt of Valor, I volunteered, but didn't know who I wanted to present the quilt to.  My son suggested someone from church, and that's when I thought of Fr. Tim.  He's been made a Pastor at St. Mary's church in Roslyn, so I went to visit him and present the quilt.  I'm honored that I could do this for him, as a small thanks for his service and for his friendship with me, my mom, and with Helene.  

I'll write a brief summary of his service, but it you want to hear more and read about him, here's the link I found.  Fr. Tim was a priest with PhD teaching at Fordham University on the morning of 9/11.  A student said that planes had hit the World Trade Towers, and from the windows they watched the towers fall.  He knew in that instant he needed to be there for the soldiers that would fight this horrible attack, so in his 40s, he decided to enlist, went through Boot Camp, and then Officer's Training school to become a chaplain.  He served 2 tours in Iraq.  He's now a parish priest for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, NY.  But anyone who meets him knows he has an amazing spirit. He deserves this small recognition.  

I took the quilt to Eisenhower Park, and got photos (with the help of my brother John) near a tank, for Fr. Tim's Army service.  I went to the 9/11 memorial at Rath Park in Franklin Square to photograph the quilt with some of the steel from the towers that fell and changed his life, and all the soldiers he served.  Finally, the photo of him receiving the quilt and the hug it represents.  

This quilt measured about 65 by 88", uses Hobb's Heirloom 80/20 Bleached cotton batting, the backing is a navy wide backing fabric, and the label above was embroidered with Aurifil 40wt thread, with the cross design from Embroidery Library.  I used Aurifil 50wt in Liberty for the quilting on my Handiquilter Amara, and the Wavy Stripes and stars design that came on the Prostitcher. Thanks to his secretary for getting me the correct title for his service, and to Fr. Tim for the promise he'll use this quilt.  Thanks also to Jenn, and to Island Batik and Hobb's for providing the fabric and the batting.