Warming the wounded

UPPER FREEHOLD — Local quilters have created blankets of hope and gratitude for wounded soldiers.

A group of quilters, headed by Jamie Smith of Four Seasons at Upper Freehold, recently created the blankets for Soldiers'Angels, a nonprofit organization based out of Pasadena, Calif., that provides aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States military and their families. Patti Patton-Bader, who is the mother of two soldiers and the granddaughter of Gen. George S. Patton, started the organization, according to Smith.

One of Soldiers' Angels projects is collecting handmade blankets to send to America's wounded soldiers and veterans. Used on hospital beds, wheelchairs, and transport litters on medevac flights, the blankets serve to convey the message that each service member is loved and not forgotten. Soldiers' Angels has the blankets placed in first-response backpacks and vet packs sent to combat-support hospitals in war zones, military medical facilities in Germany and around the world, and selected military hospitals and veterans' centers in the United States.

A group of quilters from Four Seasons of Upper Freehold created "Blankets of Hope" for wounded soldiers. Front row: (l-r) Janet Liebowitz, Jamie Smith, Paulette Hill. Back row: (l-r) Betty Krams, Joan Scott, Linda Collins, Ines Apel, Rosemary Albach. According to Soldiers' Angels, wounded soldiers are quickly evacuated from the battlefield and forced to leave behind clothing, personal equipment as well as their brothers and sisters in arms. During this time of pain and upheaval, the handmade blankets provide warmth and comfort for the wounded soldier and show that someone cares about her or him.

The Upper Freehold quilters made one "Blanket of Hope" and also made smaller lap quilts, called "Blankets of Gratitude," which will be included in vet packs sent to combatsupport hospitals, according to Smith. Smith quilted the "Blanket of Hope" with the aid of Rosemary Albach, Ines Apel, Linda Collins,

Paulette Hill, Betty Krams, Janet Liebowitz, Ann Looney, Rose Ranaudo and Joan Scott, who cut the strips, made the blocks and designed the finished product. Other members of the community made donations toward the project.

Liebowitz and Hill made two smaller lap-sized quilts.

The label on each quilt identifies those responsible for helping to create it.