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Square by square, quilt will honor POWs, MIAs
By JEAN HAYES, Times Staff Writer Quilts usually provide warmth and comfort, and members of the Nature Coast Korean War Veterans Auxiliary of Chapter 174 hope to convey that same feeling when they complete their latest project, a POW/MIA quilt they plan to exhibit at county remembrance events. The special endeavor is intended as a community effort, according to Marie Ackerman, organizer of the quilt project. "We really don't want to make the whole thing ourselves," said Ackerman. It was about a year ago that a former auxiliary member told Ackerman about POW/MIA quilts, and Ackerman said she knew almost immediately that she wanted to somehow be a part of one. Since then, Ackerman has been gathering things the group will need for the project. During the third annual Hernando County POW/MIA Recognition Day event, Sept. 22, she and her fellow auxiliary members passed out fliers about the quilt. But so far, she said, only auxiliary members have made squares. When asked why she is so passionate about creating the quilt, Ackerman explained: "I think the POWs and MIAs should be recognized for all that they went through. The majority of them are from World War II and are getting older. I know that they would really appreciate this quilt." Auxiliary members are asking individuals and local organizations from Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties to submit squares to help create the unique quilt. "We would like the squares to represent either a prisoner of war or a missing-in-action soldier. Each square should state the soldier's name and whether they were a POW or MIA," said Ackerman. "The squares do not have to be quilted," said Roberta McMillan, auxiliary member. "Embroidered or patchwork creations can be submitted as well." Requirements for the quilt state that the squares need to be 12 inches by 12 inches, with an extra half-inch on all sides for seam allowance. All squares should be made of a soft material that is machine washable, and the backgrounds should be in either the POW/MIA colors of black or white, or in red, white or blue. The rest of each square's decoration or embroidery can be in any color. "The rest of the square can contain any information you see fit, including dates, ranks, family pictures, the soldier's hobbies or interests, etc.," said Ackerman. Ackerman has a list of former prisoners of war that she can provide to individuals or organizations interested in making a square. "I don't have a list of MIAs, but if there are family members of missing-in-action veterans out there, they can contact me and provide me with the MIA's name and other information so that we can make sure a square is made in their memory," Ackerman said. "In some instances, the veterans themselves can be contacted and asked what they would like their square to look like. Maybe they have some patches they'd like to donate. In other instances, family members can be contacted to offer individual information so that the square can be more personalized." The auxiliary hopes to have at least one square for each branch of military service, including the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marines, the Coast Guard, the Women's Army Corps,the Women's Auxiliary Volunteer Emergency Service, SPARS and other groups, in addition to the individual personal squares. Members of the auxiliary said they do not want squares to contain individual organization names, except for the two center squares: One will be for the POWs, and one for the MIAs. No other organization names should be used. Auxiliary members plan to finish the quilt by attaching the squares and putting on backing. They also plan to add the military emblems and wording in the military theme. Ackerman thinks the next Hernando County POW/MIA Recognition Day event will be in September, and she hopes to receive all of the squares by July so that the auxiliary can complete the quilt in time to display it at the event. "If we don't get enough squares to make the quilt in time, then we'll just plan on completing the quilt by next year's event. If we get more than enough squares, then we'll make two," said Ackerman. To avoid duplications, individuals interested in making a square should call Marie Ackerman at 597-3625 before making a square.
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From today's Hernando Times |
