We remember those who fought for our freedoms in World War II, those who gave their lives, those who took several years from their lives, and those at home who carried on when family members were away.  Because of their sacrifices our country remained free.

Freedom image: sxc.hu

Do your children, do you know about Pearl Harbor?  You may have seen the movie, but do you know what this actually meant and still means to families?

This is a good time to learn from older relatives in the family and find our your Pearl Harbor heritage.  My uncle served in the Army Air Corps, and we have some of his letters written to my mom.  We also have a picture album of some of his experiences in the States.  However, he never talked too much about his service on the island of Guam, where he was an aircraft mechanic.

Uncle Al was so proud of serving his country that he wanted to be buried in his uniform when he died.  He kept it for those many years, for he died when he was 84.  He also wanted his medals pinned on for the funeral.  An honor guard draped a flag over his casket and presented it to my mom, his surviving sibling.  We fly that flag at our home and remember Uncle Al.

How are you remembering and preserving your World War II heritage and sharing it with your youngsters?

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Do Your Youngsters Know About Pearl Harbor?

Quilts for Fund Raising - Image: sxc.hu

Some of these fund raisers include:

• Raffles
• Auctions
• Bond drives
• Silent auctions
• Craft fairs

In the article, Quilts on display tell history of Sarnia-Lambton, I learned about the “signature quilts” made by quilting groups to raise money for bond drives during World Wars I and II.  For these fund raising efforts, local residents paid to have their names stitched in the quilts.

It was interesting to learn that the curator of a  museum, where one of these quilts was displayed, found the name of his own relative.

What fund raising efforts have you participated in involving quilts or other crafts?

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Quilts & Crafts for Fund Raising

In a shadowbox frame, the solid back is recessed beyond the front of the frame, so you can place something three dimensional as well as flat objects within it.  We have several options:

Memorabilia of my uncle’s, particularly his World War II medals, photos of his military years, perhaps parts of letters written to my mom from training camps, along with any other items we find.  Background might be flag decorations, patriotic symbols, portions of the letters, WWII scenes, or a map of Guam, where he was stationed in the Pacific.

Memories of my brother’s life.  He passed away 17 years ago, and I’d like to accumulate memories of him, from his baby pictures to his life as a dad.  He collected baseball cards, loved to read, operated a dairy cattle, and enjoyed laughter.

For a smaller frame, perhaps I’ll recreate one of my favorite trips…packing into  the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming with my husband and daughter, when she was 12 years old.  I have photos, maps, and camping memorabilia I can arrange in this box.

Shadowboxes may be about:

• A specific person’s life
• An event in a person’s life
• A place you’ve visited
• An event in history that has meaning for you
• Family tree/genealogy memorabilia
• Abstract fabric and paper designs with embellishments

What have you done with shadowboxes?

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Creating Memory Shadowboxes

This also can be a fun family time.  Gardening is part of my heritage, for every year we raised a garden when I was growing up on the farm.  It was a necessity to provide food for a family of six, a hired man and uncle who lived with us.  We joined in the gardening tasks as a matter of course.  There wasn’t a choice if we wanted fresh food for summer and canned food for winter.

Then during World War II, we called them Victory gardens, keeping in touch with the trend First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt encouraged.  I don’t recall the gardening as drudgery, for we worked at it as a family.

Gardening was a task we engaged in when our daughter was growing up.  My daughter and son-in-law have found gardening at our multigenerational home a family endeavor when health conditions keeps them from traveling elsewhere for recreation.

This year would be a good time to plant a family garden of vegetables, herbs, and flowers whether it’s a garden spot in the yard or boxes on the windowsill or porch.  Youngsters can learn about growing food and nutrition as they experience this  family activity as the Obama children are doing.

For more information about links to Michelle Obama’s Kitchen Garden and the excitement it has generated, visit White House Kitchen Garden News at my Gardens Green & Glorious blog.

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Michelle Obama Gardens with Children

I recall, even though it was many years ago, the lovely silk pillow cases with golden fringe my Uncle Al sent to my grandmother when he was stationed in California during World War II.  These pillow cases had scenes from San Francisco where Uncle Al visited.  One had the Golden Gate Bridge on it and the other a scene from Chinatown.

My grandmother stuffed throw pillows in the cases and placed them on the couch in her living room (we called it a parlor in those days), where they fascinated me as I imagined this place Uncle Al visited.  (Many years later I saw it for myself.)

I don’t know what happened to the silk cases.  However, I can imagine using them as the centerpiece of a memory quilt hanging, if I ever found them…and they were in usable condition.

If you have souvenir pillows, have you ever considered creating a memory quilt hanging with them?

(Adam Hersh Posters image)

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Silk Pillows from World War II

I was a child during those years of World War II and give talks about this era to those who have no memories of it. 

“Write down your memories about World War II,” someone told me.  So I’ve begun doing this so that my daughter, grandchildren and future generations will have some connection with it.  My stories also have been published in anthologies about this era.

If your family members lived during the World War II era, why not ask them about their memories?  Write down or capture on tape these memories as well  Compile some of these in scrapbooks or photo albums. 

I’ve seen memory quilts with photos and memorabilia of a family member’s participation in the war.  They make a nice patriotic tribute to anyone who contributed in some way to our freedom.

(Amazon image)

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Memories of Pearl Harbor Day

Veterans Day celebrations bring to mind parades, flags flying, patriotic songs, and recognition of those who have and are serving in the military to protect our country.  I think of my Uncle Al, whose flag we fly from our deck for patriotic celebrations.

(This was the flag draped over his casket at his funeral many years after his service for his country during World War II, service of which he was very proud.)

Have you made patriotic quilts, pillows, and other fabric art items in recognition of patriotic holidays?  There also are many quilt patterns with patriotic names in recognition of events of the past.

Do you have quilts you’ve made for patriotic events?  Those done in patriotic colors?  Do you have them on your blog that I can link to?

(Alyssa Preston/Amazon image)

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Patriotic Quilts for Veterans Day

 As I glanced through a quilting magazine, I saw an introduction to Victory Garden quilts by Eleanor Burns.  Since I was a child during the Victory Garden years of World War II, in the 1940s, these brought back memories.

Even the fabrics were reminiscent of those we used in making clothing and other items in that era.  These were fabrics like those used when  I learned to sew,  my grandmother pieced quilts by hand, and Auntie sewed aprons and hand towels.

Victory gardens, where Americans raised their own fruit and vegetables, often the first time for many, were popular then.  Some also planted flowers for cheer in an uncertain world of black-outs and food shortages and rationing. 

Although I grew up on a farm where we had a garden anyway, my mom planted one with  flowers  she called our Victory garden.  She painted a large tub red and blue with large white V’s on either side.  This, filled with geraniums, she positioned in the center of the plot. 

Do you have Victory Garden memories?  Then you might enjoy Eleanor Burns’ Victory Garden designs and book.

(Amazon image)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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Victory Garden Quilts by Eleanor Burns