This is the second tee-shirt of the 12 that I will be using for my quilt project. Several of the aircraft pictured here are aircraft I have flown in or been in at one time in my 30 year Air Force career. The C-130 aircraft was my primary aircraft for patient evacuation. I was an Instructor and taught others how to work in medical crew positions aboard this plane. My daughter is now an Instructor and an Evaluator for this aircraft. The plane can be configured to hold up to 70 litters. My experience with the C-141 included a lot of hours configuring for heavy patient loads in 2004. I also spent months directing the off-load of patients returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The C-141 was retired in 2006 after 43 years of service. I've flown aeromedical evacuation missions on the KC-135. This aircraft is a tanker and refuels other aircraft in-flight. On occasion it was used to transport patients utilizing special litter pallets. AWACS is special to me because my brother-in-law retired from AWACS and he is a special kind of guy. The C-5s were in my life at the beginning of my Air Force career. When I was 19 years old I was placed in the engine of the aircraft for a photo opportunity. The photograph was printed in the Air Force Times and went global. Now at the end of my career the plane has returned. It is linked to my new son-in-law who is a loadmaster aboard the C-5. Just as the first tee-shirt held memories, this one, too, reminds me of places I have been, and the memories along the way.
Very nice, especially the AWACS. I've also flown on the rest of them.
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My mother quilts. She has sewn me many different quilts that I cherish. Perhaps, my favorite one is the one that includes the state birds. Each state is represented by its own state bird. Of course, Oklahoma has the scissortail. The birds are carefully embroidered by hand and takes many months to complete. But it is beautiful when finished. I know it is tedious work; however, it is a legacy that I will always have of my mother. She has Alzheimer's Disease, which makes the quilts that more meaningful. This quilt has lots of memories, similar to your t-shirt quilt.
ReplyDeleteJanet - Thank you for visiting my blog and sharing your mother's story. Embroidery is serious needlework. How commendable that your mother embroidered a whole quilt! The Oklahoma state bird is a beautiful bird. How wonderful that you your quilt holds memories of not only your mother but Oklahoma as well. The tee-shirt quilts I have made so far hold many memories for the recipients of the quilts. Hopefully, the quilts will mean as much to them as your mother's quilts mean to you.
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