Quilters wrap up order just in time

June 21, 2010 - When the Soldiers of the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 147th Aviation Brigade arrive at Fort Hood, Texas June 20, it's quite possible that more than 400 quilts will be waiting there for them.

That's a tribute to the army of volunteers who support the Camo Quilt Project - a venture Plymouth resident Linda Wieck began shortly after her son-in-law Todd Richter, now a sergeant 1st class with the Wisconsin Army National Guard, deployed to Iraq in 2006.

According to Wieck, American Legion member Mike Rohan requested 404 quilts for the 147th - a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter battalion which will head to Iraq in several weeks - less than three weeks ago. That's a tall order by any measure.

"I think my volunteers do their best work under pressure," Wieck said.

One quilt was presented to Lt. Col. Martin Pond, commander of the 147th, during a sendoff ceremony Friday, June 18 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.

"This is one of the most beautiful gifts I have ever seen," Pond replied, prompting a standing ovation from the battalion.

Voice trembling with emotion and nerves - she had never addressed Soldiers at a sendoff ceremony before - Wieck spoke to the battalion about how her son-in-law's fellow Soldiers saw his custom quilt, made of Army Combat Uniform-patterned material, and asked if she could make more. More than 4,700 quilts later, she is still making quilts for deployed or deploying service members.

"I don't get sick of it," she said after the ceremony. "[My husband] Duane asks me if I'm ever coming home. I love doing it."

Su Timmerman of Madison began volunteering for the Camo Quilt Project in May 2009, and has made more than 300 quilts since then.

"It's something that is so useful," she said of the quilts - a thin quilted blanket with cotton batting approximately 45 inches wide by 72 inches long - about the right size for an army cot, suitable for a twin mattress. The quilt folds lengthwise in thirds and rolls up into a tight package about 15 inches long and 5 inches diameter, held in place with four attached straps. Thanks to donated materials and labor, service members do not pay for the quilts. "It just makes me feel proud that I can do something beneficial."

Brig. Gen. Don Dunbar, adjutant general of Wisconsin, praised the program.

"I think it's wonderful," he said. "The quilt is fabulous. What's special about it is this group of volunteers, these sweet ladies, thinks so much of our Soldiers to make these quilts. It's a perfect metaphor for the citizens of Wisconsin and their support of our Citizen Soldiers."