East Polk's QOV Chapter honored with quilt donation and an oversea's visitor

Anne Cascales of Arches, France and Marilyn Bujalski of Clear Lake, MN spoke to a small but impressed audience on September 17 at the Library Theater.

Anne is a volunteer at the Epinal American Cemetery. She's one of several who give daily tours and assists families in locating the graves of their loved ones who died in WWII.

There are over 5000 American heroes buried there. Epinal is one of several cemeteries dedicated to American heroes who liberated France and the rest of Europe from Nazi tyranny. She has done research on each one buried there so all can know them. Her special project is Minnesota heroes. She has been a PenPal of Marcia 

Bujarski for 20 years. Marcia lives in Shevlin and quilts for our local chapter of QOV.

Anne's message to us is that Americans who died in WWII will not be forgotten. They are honored on Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, V-E Day, D-Day, and many more. These days are very solemn tributes. Anne donated two quilts she made to our QOV chapter Quilters of East Polk County. 

Marilyn Bujalski spoke to us about Eagles Healing Nest in Sauk Center, MN. She has made 26 quilts she has donated to veterans who live there.

Eagles Healing Nest was started in 2012 by Melanie Butler. It is a place to fine peace and purpose to those veterans who struggle with PTSD and traumatic brain injury. Some stay for a few weeks and some never leave.

Melanie says, "The idea is for them to have their own place to heal at their own pace. It's not a shelter. It's not a hospital or clinic. It's their home and they're family."

Eagles Healing Nest will be welcoming women this fall. Kathryn Carver and Ilene Reierson worked together on a quilt and donated. You can find more information on line or on Facebook. 

This event was hosted by Quilters of East Polk County a chapter of Quilts of Valor.