Bringing comfort to wounded warriors

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Lisa Meiman
  • 90th Space Wing Public Affairs
F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo --  A Warren spouse and her third child are intertwining their passion for quilting and their life in the military to provide wounded servicemembers a little warmth and comfort. 

Tana Angerman, wife of Maj. Scott Angerman, 90th Communication Squadron commander, and her only daughter, Electra, completed their second quilt for Quilts of Valor, an organization whose mission is to give hand-made quilts to all servicemembers wounded in combat in the global war on terror. 

"Quilting is my passion. I'm tying my passion into the military, which is my life. A quilt is the most heartfelt gift I can give," said Mrs. Angerman. 

Mrs. Angerman traveled to the International Quilting Festival in Houston Nov. 1 through Saturday, and brought her quilt to display at the festival. 

However, Electra didn't get to go. She's stuck in the attic because she is a Handi Quilt Sixteen mid-arm quilting machine about 10 feet in length. 

The Quilts of Valor organization also had a booth at the festival, which Mrs. Angerman volunteered to work. The goal was to raise awareness about the organization and increase participation. 

The organization needs about 16,000 to 17,000 more quilts to get one to everyone, said Mrs. Angerman. 

Mrs. Angerman said she hopes to raise awareness about the Quilts of Valor organization, which was started in November 2003. 

"It's a very worthy program. It's just a small way to give back to those who are making sacrifices for our country," said Major Angerman. 

Mrs. Angerman first found out about the organization by chance. While attending a meeting at a Colorado quilt guild, she came across a single sheet of paper about Quilts of Valor. Since then she has not seen any mention or advertisement of Quilts of Valor in any of her quilt guild meetings here. 

Her quilt will be sent to Walter Reed Regional Medical Facility in Washington D.C., where it will be given to a wounded Soldier there or sent to another hospital in the states or to Landstuhl, Germany. 

The quilt is 66 by 85 inches and is made out of fabrics that represent each of the four services, an American flag fabric and yellow ribbon fabric. 

"I wanted to make it as patriotic as possible," said Mrs. Angerman. 

Her first quilt was sent to a chaplain at Walter Reed. 

"I don't know who was given the quilt. But it would be nice to know," she said.
It takes Mrs. Angerman about 20 to 30 hours to complete a quilt, depending on variables, like if her two young sons are home. 

Her sons are also her little helpers, picking out fabrics for the quilt and picking up pins and needles when Mrs. Angerman is working with Electra, she said. 

Her goal is to do a couple of quilts a year. 

The quilt is something tangible, something they can keep and cuddle up under, said Mrs. Angerman. 

She has been quilting for about 10 years and has done 60 or more quilts so far.
Once a quilt is finished, quilters contact their Quilts of Valor representative and they give the quilter an address to send the quilt. 

Even without a quilting machine, it is possible to send an uncompleted quilt to a quilter to finish up. The Quilts of Valor Web site offers kits and donated fabrics. 

Mrs. Angerman said she is also willing to finish uncompleted quilts. For more information visit the Quilts of Valor Web site at www.qovf.org.