(Gail continued)

She served seven (7) years active and reserve.  She then served 25 years in Civil Service, law enforcement, and warehousing and production control at Sharp and Tracy Depots.

Shortly after retiring from Civil Service, Gail’s parents purchased a Long Arm Quilting Machine.  Curiosity had Gail trying her hand at running it.  She had instant success, which led to establishing a full-time business with her family in 1997 called “All Together Family Quilting.”

Gail has won numerous awards at Machine Quilters’ Showcase, local fairs and quilt shows.  Her work has become well known and quilts come to her from all over the States for her special expertise, which is freehand quilting.

In 2005, Gail received a Newsletter from longarm quilter, Marcia Stevens, challenging all longarmers to become involved with the Quilt of Valor Foundation, founded by Catherine Roberts, to help provide all wounded servicemembers with special Quilts of Valor.  Having played taps for servicemen killed during the Vietnam era and having a Godson serving in Iraq, she felt it was her duty and honor to help with this program.

Gail called upon her local guild, Loose Threads Quilt Guild in Valley Springs, to make the pieced tops that she could quilt and send to wounded servicemembers.  Since 2005, Gail has quilted over 300 Quilts of Valor.  She is the Coordinator for Northern California and the Operations Officer for the Quilt of Valor Foundation.  Gail quilts the patriotic QOVs for free.  In 2005, she was asked by the Navy Seals in San Diego, to do a special Quilt of Valor for a special recipient.  When it was finished, they told her it was going to the President.  By luck, the pattern was the Texas Lone Star.

Gail is always thinking of ways to get the word out about Quilts of Valor and the comfort they provide our wounded servicemembers.  A special Eagle quilt, called “Pentagon Pride,” was designed and quilted by Gail, painted by Linda Hasbrook, and now resides at the Pentagon in the 9/11 Display Case.

“I would love to give every veteran a quilt if I could,” Gail says.  “I saw a husband and wife on TV recently who had had their house painted with bad words.  I called the TV Station, got their address and drove two hours to give them a Quilt of Valor.  The husband had never received his purple heart and the quilt meant everything to him.”

Gail was honored along with nine other Quilt of Valor volunteers at the Evening Marine Parade in Washington, DC.  The Commandant of the Marine Corps and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps received Quilts of Valor.  The quilts were pieced by QOV volunteers Cathy Morris and Shirley Ashby of Valley Springs.

Raising money for batting, backing, fabric and thread for these special quilts is on-going.  Quilt tops are received from different quilting groups throughout Northern California, quilted by Gail, and sent off to their designated destinations.  Gail travels to Quilt Shows to try and recruit other longarmers and piecers to join the cause.

Gail is a member of American Legion Post 102, is on the Honor Guard, and plays Taps when needed.  Recently, Gail and QOV volunteers delivered fourteen (14) patriotic quilts to Veterans in a San Andreas Nursing Home. 

“I will not let the veterans be forgotten!”