Quilts for wounded soldiers Published Jan. 10, 2007 By 2nd Lt. Maureen Brown 311th Training Squadron PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. -- On a Friday night in December, when most Defense Language Institute students are out to dinner or a movie, a group of a dozen 311th Training Squadron students gathered for a quilting bee. Led by Chief Academic Training Advisor Master Sgt. Susan Boyd, the students are part of a group of approximately 30 airmen who sew quilts for wounded soldiers and airmen. 311th students and staff members write messages of hope and inspiration on quilt squares for service members wounded in action. The group that gathered recently included three students as well as a senior airman and a technical sergeant. Students used four sewing machines and an ironing board to help put the quilts together. Some students worked on sewing machines while others hand-sewed. "I love hand sewing," said Airman 1st Class Julie Roby, "I love being a grandma's girl." The messages on the quilt squares ranged from the typical "Get Well Soon" to a picture of a donkey with a message reading "You kick some a**!" The quilts, with 30 squares on each, will be donated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Each quilt takes approximately 10 man hours to complete. The current group of students hopes to make 8 quilts in the next few weeks.
