Lest We Forget...

Today as we pause and take time to remember those who have fought for, and sometimes given their lives for the freedoms we too often take for granted, I wanted to commend a wonderful group of women I work with who are, in a very loving way, thanking those heros of the heart.

I've shared with you in the past about my wonderfully crafty co-workers. This time their gift was a precious gift of love!

A few years ago some of the girls started meeting for lunch together with the goal of learning to quilt. Quickly they were fashioning beautiful blocks for quilts and also 3 wall hanging quilts that were raffled off with the proceeds being donated to the United Way.

This year they chose another project which to me stands out above them all. This year they created a beautiful quilt that today, Remembrance Day 2007, was given to the mother or spouse of a Canadian soldier who has given his/her life in overseas operations. The design consist of 24 maple leafs with a heart in the centre of each of them.

The quilt was finished and delivered to the Canadian Comfort and Remembrance Project who passed it on to the Canadian Dept. of National Defence, where the back was signed by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Rick Hillier, as a gesture of his support for the families who have lost a loved one.

Friends, thank you so much for taking the time to create this beautiful gift from the heart! I, on behalf of Canadians am so thankful for your gift of love.

On a similar note I wanted to share a wonderful new tradition that has happened near my home over the past couple of years. My home is located between the city where fallen soldiers are brought to when their bodies are returned to Canada and Toronto. Each of the men and women who have given their lives for our freedom are driven from Trenton to Toronto. Recently the section of highway where these soldiers pass has been renamed the, 'Highway of Heros.' I'm not sure when or how this tradition began but now, each time that the body of a fallen soldier travels along this stretch of highway, each and every overpass is lined with Canadians who take time out of their daily lives to say 'Thank you.' Flags are draped, fire trucks with uniformed fire fighters standing at attention and others wanting to do something to say thank you. On a recent trip to Toronto I was brought to tears as I drove this stretch of highway as people were preparing to say their thank yous. What an amazing sight to see! Someday I hope to not drive along the highway but to take time to stop, stand at attention and say thank you out of respect for a life that was lost too soon.

If you're a quilter and would be interested in finding out how your group might participate in this project, or a similar one, you can find more details here:

Canadians:
Canadian Comfort and Remembrance Project

Americans:
Quilts of Valor
Operation Homefront Quilt