Heartfelt exhibition coming to Redmond’s Happy Valley Grange

As America’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan increasingly become matters of political maneuvering, and the statistics of the dead and injured made into props for those debating in halls and boardrooms far away from the battlefields, the story of Sue Nebeker and the Sammamish Sew Whats is a refreshing example of simple humanity.

Nebeker is the woman behind American Hero Quilts, who since 2004 has made quilts for injured soldiers returning from battlefields overseas, as a warm, welcoming gift to try and heal the deep emotional wounds that often accompany physical ones.

Though a 60-year-old lady making quilts in her Vashon Island home might sound like a quaint, artsy-crafty hobby story, the gentle art of quilt making doesn’t describe the robust passion of a determined woman who has been putting in 60 hours a week for the past five years, producing 100 quilts a month.

The story behind the quilts only adds to the poignancy of their creation.

It was a newspaper story about a 22-year-old soldier from eastern Washington, returning from Iraq suffering severe emotional trauma and struggling to fit in to the society he once knew, that was the catalyst for Nebeker to reach out and help these young men and women.

Moved by the stories of returning injured veterans, she was spurred into action, contributing in one of the only ways she could — quilts.

She hoped that giving a veteran a quilt would let them know that they were loved and appreciated.

Nebeker and her small team of devoted workers now provide an American Hero Quilt for every injured soldier at the Madigan Army Hospital, near Fort Lewis in Tacoma, a commitment that not only tests the limits of human quilting endurance, but has also tested the finances of Nebeker and her family, and the generosity of those who help her.

Materials and mailing expenses run to about $700 a month.

Exhibition in Redmond

On Saturday, March 7, the Sammamish Sew Whats will present an exhibition of American Hero Quilts at Happy Valley Grange in Redmond, 19720 NE 50th St, at 10 a.m. All proceeds from the show will support the efforts of American Hero Quilts.

Intricate and colorful works of art in their own right, the quilt display will be a not-to-miss show for all local lovers of arts and textiles.

A $5 donation is suggested.

The Sammamish Sew Whats have made a number of quilts which will be raffled on the day, and there will also be a sewing “grab bag” and bake sale.

But the obvious highlight of the day will be the appearance of the lady who started it all.

At 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Nebeker will tell the story of American Hero Quilts, and her efforts in trying to alleviate the suffering of these young men and women.

The American Hero Quilts show in Redmond will be their third exhibition since starting up 12 years ago.

Their first, in 2000, was the raise money to help the family of Madeline Murakami, a little girl born with a degenerative liver disease.

A few years later they held a show to raise money to build an orphanage in India.

‘You are our hero’

Every quilt is hand-made and unique, and each one has a message on the back that says “You are our hero. Thank you! The people of Vashon Island, Washington.”

It is not hard to imagine the effect this would have on an injured soldier, badly injured, homesick, and worried about their future.

“As quilters we know how long it takes to make one quilt, let alone 100 a month,” said Nan Slaughter, a member of the Sammamish Sew Whats, a local quilting group.

Just as Nebeker was moved by the stories of returning soldiers, so too was the Sew Whats touched by the efforts of Nebeker and the courage and energy she was able to muster to help where she could.

Last year, the Sammamish group made a pile of quilt tops and delivered them to Nebeker’s home on Vashon.

“I don’t think any of us were prepared for the emotional impact of meeting her and hearing the stories of the wounded soldiers,” said Sammamish quilter Stephanie Allgood.

“Her story was so inspiring. She shared with us the words of soldiers who had thanked her, and what the quilts meant to them – everyone was crying, it was really moving.”

As Nebeker commits to keep making quilts until there are no more injured troops returning from the war, the small group of Sammamish quilters has pledged their support to her effort.

“When she started, Sue thought the war wouldn’t last all that long,” said Slaughter. “Now, five years later, she is still making quilts and still donating them to the hospital — there is never a shortage of wounded veterans.

“These quilts go a long way to helping those men and women recover.”

For more information about Nebeker, go to www.americanheroquilts.com

To get in touch with the Sammamish Sew Whats, call Slaughter at (425) 836-2729.