Thanking Our Troops
God Bless America Touring Quilts
By Judy Howard and Nationwide Quilt Artists

“Like a mother's loving arms, this quilt is our hug for our hero—a gift of thanks for protecting America. It expresses our gratitude, love, respect, and honor to forever hold and comfort you."

This is the greeting sewn on the back of the quilt that Staff Sergeant Logan Ballew received upon arriving at the Bethesda Military Hospital in August of 2006. While disarming a roadside bomb in Iraq, Logan received the impact of the exploding bomb. The local military hospital personnel waited to notify Logan’s parents for three days, not knowing whether they would be sending the boy back home in a body bag or to a hospital.

Logan’s mother, Joan Ballew from Edmond, Oklahoma, entered a portrait quilt of her son, incorporating his uniform with buttons and zippers, in Buckboard Quilts’ God Bless America touring quilt exhibit, Thanking Our Troops.

“How do I love America—let me quilt the ways” is the theme of these 200 twenty-two-inch and larger patriotic quilts that are blanketing America for four years with “Hugs for our Heroes” and are featured in this full-color gift book along with their heart-warming stories of patriotism and gratitude.

This book is a fundraiser for Operation Kid Comfort, a program of the ASYMCA that serves the children of deployed parents.  All profits from the exhibits and books go to provide quilts for wounded troops and the families of our fallen heroes—those most in need of God’s loving touch and comfort these quilts represent.

Patriotic songs by the top artists of today and Legends of yesterday!

1. If the World Had A Front Porch – Tracy Lawrence
2. You Do Your Thing – Montgomery Gentry
3. Have You Forgotten – Darryl Worley
4. The Bumper Of My SUV – Chely Wright
5. A Country Boy Can Survive – Hank Williams, Jr.
6. Living In The Promiseland – Willie Nelson
7. Somebody’s Someone – Lonestar
8. This Is God – Phil Vassar
9. Sweet Southern Comfort – Buddy Jewell
10. You’ve Got To Stand For Something – Aaron Tippin
11. Okie From Muskogee – Merle Haggard
12. American Made – Oak Ridge Boys
13. Some Gave All – Billy Ray Cyrus
14. Down Home – Alabama
15. They Also Serve – John Conlee
16. Ragged Old Flag – Johnny Cash
17. America The Beautiful (Live) – Elvis Presley