The "Lincoln Family Love" Pillowcase Project

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

This letter from ALFA came on  October 25, 2010 at 4:39pm

Dear Ladies,

Thank you for your support and we apologize that some of you are upset about the turn of events with the Lincoln Pillowcase Project. ALFA is committed to supporting you in your efforts to make this project go. We would like to make you aware of the “behind the scenes” actions that will hopefully boast moral and get us back on track to make sure that the sailors of the USS Abraham Lincoln know how much we appreciate and support them. First off, we would like to address the issue of Mrs. Stephanie Wilcox, the former project coordinator. It was brought to our attention that Mrs. Wilcox had not obtained approval from the CMC or CO of the Lincoln. We are aware that she obtained approval from the Strike Group 9 Legal Department but approval needed to be obtained from the CMC or CO of the Lincoln as well. After lengthy conversations with Mrs. Wilcox to obtain the information ALFA needed in order to take this project to the Lincoln for approval, she told two of our Board Members that she was quitting the project because it was too stressful. Finding a new coordinator was a logical first step for us as we did not want this project to go to the way side and reality is that command approval would not have been granted to Mrs. Wilcox. Command approval was granted to Heads at Ease as they are an established group with credibility behind them. Heads at Ease has done this project for many other service members that are serving our country. Yes, you could have sent the pillowcases you made out to your individual sailors or even to their friends but without command approval or support there was no way that all sailors would have received a pillowcase, which is the goal that we are working towards. Second, is the issue of the project name change. The name of the project was changed because not all of the pillowcases will be done in time to make it to the ship for Christmas and as an added bonus, we do not offend those service members who are not of the Christian Faith. Thank you again for your continued support of our service members! If you have any further questions please contact [e-mail].


Cordially,
The Abraham Lincoln Family Association

 

 

The notes and labels that Dori has designed, have been amended to say Lincoln Family Love, as this project has now been opened up to the entire Lincoln family, not just N4M.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

Dear Ladies,

Thank you for your support and we apologize that some of you are upset about the turn of events with the Lincoln Pillowcase Project. ALFA is committed to supporting you in your efforts to make this project go. We would like to make you aware of the “behind the scenes” actions that will hopefully boast moral and get us back on track to make sure that the sailors of the USS Abraham Lincoln know how much we appreciate and support them. First off, we would like to address the issue of Mrs. Stephanie Wilcox, the former project coordinator. It was brought to our attention that Mrs. Wilcox had not obtained approval from the CMC or CO of the Lincoln. We are aware that she obtained approval from the Strike Group 9 Legal Department but approval needed to be obtained from the CMC or CO of the Lincoln as well. After lengthy conversations with Mrs. Wilcox to obtain the information ALFA needed in order to take this project to the Lincoln for approval, she told two of our Board Members that she was quitting the project because it was too stressful. Finding a new coordinator was a logical first step for us as we did not want this project to go to the way side and reality is that command approval would not have been granted to Mrs. Wilcox. Command approval was granted to Heads at Ease as they are an established group with credibility behind them. Heads at Ease has done this project for many other service members that are serving our country. Yes, you could have sent the pillowcases you made out to your individual sailors or even to their friends but without command approval or support there was no way that all sailors would have received a pillowcase, which is the goal that we are working towards. Second, is the issue of the project name change. The name of the project was changed because not all of the pillowcases will be done in time to make it to the ship for Christmas and as an added bonus, we do not offend those service members who are not of the Christian Faith. Thank you again for your continued support of our service members! If you have any further questions please contact [e-mail].


Cordially,
The Abraham Lincoln Family Association

[siouxmom]

Where do we send the pillowcases we have made? I have some ready to ship

[siouxmom]

thanks maryellen I will do that

[siouxmom]

Here are some pics of pc being mailed my neighbor helped make some too.

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

they look great! like that tennis fabric. oh, I like all the fabrics. love the fabric store!

[Dawn L.]

Do you still do the pillow case project? If so, how can I become involved? My name is Dawn and my son Ben will be coming to the ship on Wednesday. He just graduated A-school. He is a mass communications specialist. If the project is still going on, I would be willing to make some pillow cases for our sailors. Just let me know and what size they have to be. Also, I will need an address to send them to. Ben hasn't gotten an address yet for the ship. Thanks, I can't wait to hear about it.

[Kim (Ethan's Mom)]

Dawn, this project was for Christmas last year. There are other groups that make pillowcases for our troops if you want to help with those. Molly's Adopt a Sailor group, adopts a different deployed group every month (Navy, Army, Marines, etc) and we also send pillowcases to a combat support hospital in Dwyer, Afghanistan. There is also Heads at Ease group that does it also. If you have any questions, just let me know and I'll try to help.

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

Hi Dawn,

come on over Heads at Ease.  We do groups all the time and have 4 coming up real soon.  We have been in a sew and stash mode since May when we finished working the the USS George H W Bush.

My son, also Ben, served on the Lincoln with a squadron.  He did 2 deployments on the Lincoln before he completed his time in the navy.

I actually started the whole pillowcase movement in June 2008 when he was deployed on the Lincoln. 

I am sure there will be new sailors joining the Lincoln like your son though.  So please make him one.  And we'll have to take it from there. 

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

Dolly, I must give you a praise for sending out the emails to all of your contacts about this project. This is what has been needed for a long time. Everyone getting in touch with their contacts.

The only way for this project to be a Christmas project is to have the 5,000 finished ready to ship and we are short of that goal. So please every one, do what Dolly did and get the word out that we need help.

I worked hard to get 34 moms and got some pcs in the mail today from a mom. Here's what she said:

Thanks for doing what you are doing for our boys. As Andrew said they will be a much needed perk. I never made a pillowcase before but I was really happy with how they turned out. Glad we are on the same team also.

My son mentioned it in his shop one day. this young man said "my mom might like to help" and sent me her email address.

I also sent out a plea to my HAE sewing crew this past week. I am happy to report that numbers are coming in. They know this is my son's ship and they want to help.

That's what it is all about: networking.

[Jackie D]

MaryEllen
I think it may help to keep an updated count when you can, like you posted before. gotta keep the motivation going!

I know you are super, super busy with the coordination and thats exactly what we need, but when you have the time, a count update would be great!

Thanks

[Jackie D]

great, thanks for the update! How about percentages instead of actual numbers? about 1/2 way there is good, but as we progress, I would think percentages would keep people happy...... see if that violates OPSEC. I just wanted to see if that kept people spurred on if they could see a goal!!!!!!!

[Jackie D]

you don't have to get back to me on this, it was just a suggestion. Like I said, I know you have tons going on, and this is not a critical thing, just a suggestion if it worked!!!!! Have a happy sewing day!