One stitch at a time

Stitch by careful stitch, scores of women across Virginia are making quilts for the families of the state's service members who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Organized as the Virginia Memorial Quilt Project, the group has so far presented almost 130 quilts — each individually numbered and labeled — to the kin of Virginians who have died in the long war on terror.

"It really was a good feeling to know there was support — uncalled for, unlooked for — that we weren't alone," said Richard Linn of Midlothian. His 20-year-old son, Marine Lance Cpl. Karl Linn, was killed in Iraq in 2005.

The Linns keep the memorial quilt in a special remembrance room for Karl, with his Marine uniform, his medals, his youthful artwork.

Sometimes by themselves, sometimes in quilting circles of 10 to 15, more than 150 women have worked on the quilts since the project began in 2006, said Debbie Elam, of Powhatan County, the project's chairman.

The volunteers have come from Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, Goochland, Powhatan and Lunenburg counties, as well as Fredericksburg and Lynchburg.

And, Elam said, "we are committed until the last Virginia soldier returns."

Each quilt is unique and each is labeled with the fallen service member's name, rank, hometown, birth date and date of death. The labels note that the quilt "was made in honor of their service to the United States," Elam said.

"These quilts are a memorial to the soldier whose name is on each label," she said, "and that sets a high standard of quality and workmanship."

The designs, the colors, the fabric all are important, she said. Generally 72 inches by 90 inches in size, the quilts' patterns tend toward the subdued and the traditional, the colors patriotic or muted or variegated and "scrappy."

"We like traditional; we like red, white and blue," Elam said, but, "sometimes I will ask the family if the soldier or wife or family has a special color."

The quilters use only high-quality cotton, and they ensure they are appropriate to be family heirlooms.

"Knowing that these are memorial quilts," Elam said, "they have to have a different tone."

More than 140 Virginians in the military have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Elam contacts the families of the fallen service members through the Legacy.com Web site.

"The families are so wonderful — and appreciative of what we're doing," she said. "They're so touched that someone is still remembering their child after so long."

"Deb Elam and I are now buddies," Linn said. "I met a bunch of the quilters — a lot of hugs all around. I'm proud to know them."

George Lutz has received one of the project's memorial quilts. His son, Army Pfc. George A. Lutz II, died in Iraq in 2005.

"The most significant meaning of the quilt is that someone took the time to remember his sacrifice and his life," said Lutz, who lives in Chesapeake.

"That's the most important tribute you can give a family."

Peter Bacqué is a staff writer for Media General’s Richmond Times-Dispatch.