Happenstance, A Quilt of Valor Award, Oregon

Happenstance. That is how the Quilt of Valor presentation came about last evening, 8/7/2014.

I am on vacation at the Oregon coast in my motorhome. It was a beautiful day yesterday and I was sitting outside binding a quilt by hand when I lookedy up and saw that this gentleman walking by on the sidewalk. Immediately I noticed his baseball cap. Printed on it was Vietnam. I got up and walked towards him and said, "Excuse me, but did you serve in Vietnam?"

He replied, "Yes I did." 

While he was replying I held out my hand to shake his and then said, "Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Welcome home!"  

I could see the emotion in his eyes as one usually does, especially with the Vietnam veterans. I started talking to him telling him I was as QOVF coordinator for this area and when he told me where he was from, I knew he lived in my area. I told him about the previous presentation I just made Sunday then he started telling me about his post service from Vietnam. He told me about the nightmares is he had and sometimes still has. He related several instances that shrouded his life for so long and I knew then and there that I would present a quilt to him.

I found out he was staying in an RV park across the road from mine, his name and address and phone number. Later in the day I went to his RV site and met his wife and of course, no one knew my plans to present a quilt to this man last evening. 

Gratefully, I elicited the help of their friends from California and his wife so last evening around 7 PM I went to their campsite. He looked at me curiously when he saw me drive up probably wondering why I was being so nosy, as I've been accused of that before, so I called to the women, "I brought the fabric you were interested in." At that point he lost interest and continued talking to his buddies, which gave us the chance to get the quilt out which was in its presentation case that I just sewed together that afternoon in the motorhome because I just happened to have fabric in the trunk of my car to make a pillowcase. That never happens. I also had labels that the quilt group I was with on Monday had given me to share with others. That was part of the happenings that don't usually happen.

So his quilt is called Happenstance as all the elements came together in such a unusual happening sort of way. I presented the QOV to him and amidst   tears and hugs, because you know every hug gives you three more minutes of life, and I let everyone know about that so there were many, many hugs and lots of tears and healing and appreciation. What a way to say thank you for your service and welcome home!!

"HAPPENSTANCE"