South Dakota

So instead I would like to sincerely thank

everyone that was involved with making this

trip possible & also a very memorable event.

Foremost on my list is Shirley Redmond Public Affairs Officer Sioux Falls VA for having the compassion & courage to host The Quilt Of Tears display last July in the main lobby of Sioux Falls Regional Medical Center which I will always believe led to our display in the rotunda of the capitol building in Pierre during the Vietnam

War Memorial Dedication. More people like Shirley Redmond are needed in our VA facilities across our country working with our Veterans.

A sincere hug goes to Mike Castle for

introducing us to Shirley last year. semper fi

A Trip To Pierre, South Dakota With The Quilt Of Tears

WOW!

It's hard for me to put this trip into words!

These one's are especially for Jennie

we had a bagpiper stroll in & wander up to the balcony where he played Amazing Grace...Wow! There wasn't a head among the crowd that didn't 'uncover' & you could've heard a pin drop. The piper was asked by folks in attendance to come back later for an encore...he did & it was awesome!

It was very crowded on Saturday, standing room only...

A beautiful new Quilt block was brought to be added to the Quilt Of Tears by Phyllis Kerkhove & her family from Sioux Falls, SD. The block is in memory of her husband, Richard Kerkhove.

Tears flowed freely but the hugz helped us all.

Please look to the upper part of this photo where you will see a big photo on an easel...it was a special tribute to a local South Dakota Veteran, Larry Crosby that passed away last September. Larry was an Agent Orange Victim. The photo has a very special poem on it that was written by Larry Crosby, please visit http://www.watermelondaze.com/

and read this special poem

It was an honor to spend some time with Artie Mueller & his wife, especially on Sept. 15th...National POW/MIA Recognition Day.

May we never waiver from the cause!

Thank you Mike...I know Jennie is smiling!

A special thank you to Doug Lund & Brian Cooper at Keloland News

Thank you both for giving the Quilt Of Tears the opportunity to send our message out to many. The news/media coverage you supplied was done so very graciously & very honestly.

Thank you Govenor Mike Rounds for letting us display the Quilt Of Tears right down the hallway from you office.

Thank you to Chuck Clement for the wonderful newspaper article in the special supplement to the Capital Journal

A huge thank you to Vietnam Veteran Mike Castle who worked very hard to make The Quilt Of Tears be a part of both events in South Dakota. We are forever grateful on behalf of all AO Victims!

It was brought to my attention that Henry & I missed so much that went on at the Dedication Events in Pierre. That's very true! We miss many things as we go different places with the display, but we are now used to it. We don't complain because we go to these events to be there for the Veterans & their families.

We watched a lot from the steps of the capital building while we were monitoring people at the Quilts at the same time. I know how grand the parade was but I wouldn't have traded a conversation I had later with one of the Veterans for anything in the world....He was one of the Vets that joined in to walk in the parade when they asked if any wanted to just walk in it as a Vietnam Vet...He stood & told me with tears in his eyes of the emotions that were going thru his head as he walked...he said he kept wondering why it couldn't have been like that so long ago, he also told me that he almost didn't keep walking because of the things he was feeling. It was hard for that Vet to continue on the route & finish the walk in the parade but he did. He did & I was there at the moment that he needed to talk about it...I told him he should be proud & I was glad that he had came, I was very happy that he struggled to continue walking in the parade & he admitted that he felt better inside because he had. I was there to listen to him when he needed someone, the personal comments he shared came from the heart of a Veteran that accomplished something very difficult by participating in the parade that day & I wouldn't have traded that experience for any thing in the world. I might not have had the opportunity to view the entire parade from a front row seat but my view was just fine!

Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans!

Very Well Done, Pierre!