Al Lind: American Hero

This Quilt of Valor top was pieced by Al Lind of Quincy, Washington. I have had the priviledge of quilting 13 of Al’s quilt tops over the past 2 years.

Each of his finished quilts are sent, packaged with his 7 page story.  Here is a small excerpt from his story:

"Al Lind: Drafted in 1942, the work hardened farm boy from South Dakota had entered the army strong and fit at 160 pounds. June 18th, 1945 he returned to American soil, a survivor of 23 months and 11 days as a POW--he was 80 pounds of rawboned courage.

He married and returned to a life of farming. When he retired he was always looking for something to do. That’s how he began cutting cotton strips for his neighbor, a quilter. She told him about Quilts of Valor.  When Al found out more about the effort, he put hours in each day cutting fabric for others as well. Within a few weeks, he was taught to make foundation string pieced blocks with a borrowed sewing machine. He now has his own machine and makes 10-12 quilt tops a month.

For him, service to country is a lifelong commitment. His quilts now honor those who followed in his footsteps: the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who each day stand ready to risk lives to protect the freedoms all of us enjoy."

Al Lind celebrated his 92nd birthday January 1, 2010.

These string pieced quilts have hundreds of donated fabrics in them:  all kinds of prints, all kinds of colors, all sizes utilized.

Al takes all those fabrics, cuts them into strips and turns them into a work of art!

The quilting pattern I used is called "Allegiance" by Kristin Hoftyzer.

Thank you Al Lind.