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]

Comment by Linda (Sailor Mom) 1 hour ago My son got his box of pillowcases, still is passing them out! (0: They are a 'hit'

he said. They are making 'LOTS' of sailors smile it sounds. (-: Sue...I still think

it is amazing how you started this project and now it is 'bursting' out to all service branches! What a great idea to comfort the men and women far away from home. God bless you and all the ladies who are making PC's!
.

[Birdie]

I posted a couple of pictures on the HAE page of my son passing out the pc's at the VRC-30 Christmas party. Everyone LOVED them!

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

They are wonderful photos!  love the one of your son sending you a kiss!

[Birdie]

A Facebook message I received from a gal in my son's squadron:

 

Thank you very much for my pillow case. I love it very much and it means a lot to have families back home that support us so very much. Also thank you for all the goodies you send us.

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

thanks for posting so we can all share in the joy!

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

I looked in another email account and found this thank you note today. It was posted on Christmas Day. My son doesn't have all of the squadrons' pcs, but he is giving out what he can. So that's good:

Dear Mrs. Lamberson,

I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the pillowcase I received from you and the wonderful ladies at Heads at Ease. Yall are an amazing group of people! Yes, I do know your son Ben well. Him and I have been good friends for a little while now. I am sorry that I didn’t get the honor to meet you and Ray. I’ve heard a lot about yall, all good I promise LOL!, and would’ve really enjoyed the opportunity. I thank you also for taking the time to personalize mine when I know you have so many to do. If it’s ok with you, I’d like to forward your email address to my wife and my grandmother (who both love to sew and like you, have a deep appreciation for our country’s military. I will wait until I have your permission to do so but I’m sure they’d both really love to help out in any way they can. Also, both my wife and my grandmother are both very religious and I know yall will have a lot of fun talking to one another. I’d like to contribute some money when I can so, again if you don’t mind, I’ll ask Ben for your home address to mail it to you. It is very hard to be away from my wife, children, other family and friends especially around Christmas time but things like this are a tremendous help. From the very bottom of my heart, I thank each and every one of you. I wish you and your husband a very safe, free, and, of course, a very Merry Christmas.

In the deepest appreciation,

Cxxxxxxxxx

VFA-34 Corrosion Shop

and thank you to Matt's mom for making that special TX longhorns pc for him!   I suggested that he buy his wife some fabric for her to sew.

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

I’m command Master Chief xxxxxxx, I just received a box of custom pillow cases from your organization and after looking for a while I was able to find an e-mail address. On behalf of Strike Fighter Squadron 151 from Lemoore CA, currently deployed in support of the war efforts onboard USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN I say Thank You.

Thank you for your support,

VFA 151 (underway onboard ABRAHAM LINCOLN)

I wrote back and asked who sent them. We had 5 ladies send to this squadron. I hope he will write back and tell us which one he got and how many so far. 

so  exciting!

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

got a nice email from my son's CMC this morning.  I also think he has more pcs than I thought as he mentioned a big brown box.  none of us used that so that must be the 3 that went by COD.

 

Hello Sue,  It was really great to receive all those pillow cases for our Sailors.  I can’t tell you enough how much we all appreciate the acts of kindness from you and all your supporters.  I have had the privilege of watching your son continue to grow during his assignment to VFA-34.  He is really doing a great job and you should be very proud of him as I am sure you are.   I have been serving for 26 years now and the one thing that makes it easier is knowing that the country supports us.  I am very proud of you and your efforts and Salute you for all you are doing.  It really does make a difference in the morale of the Sailors out here to have a little piece of home to lay their head on.

 

Again thank you very much.

 xxxxxxxx 

Command Master Chief

 

what a blessing and wonderful start of my day!

    

[Kim (Ethan's Mom)]

I received an email yesterday from the media department of the Penny Press asking me about the pillowcases that I sent to Ethan's squadron. I am so humbled that they asked me why I did the project. There aren't enough words to express my feelings for how proud I am of my sailor and all the others as well. To think what a pillowcase can do for the morale of these sailors! WOW

 

I just hope I didn't sound like a doofus!!! haha

[Jackie D]

Kim, that is great!  Maybe they'll do a little write up in the Penny Press!!!!!  I haven't heard anything but positives from my notes from the sailors.... even my own sailor who didn't think this would go over so great said he couldn't believe how much everyone likes them!!!!  I guess when you've lived with someone who has sew everything they've ever owned practically, you just take it for granted and he saw people who were just amazed!  I think my son just thought it was normal for me to make everything!

When my kids were little and they needed something... my daughter especially... I would have her go down into my sewing room and pick out the fabric and pattern for a new dress.  That was clothes shopping for them til they were much older!!!! 

 

It has just warmed my heart to have done this project for our kids!!!!!

[Kim (Ethan's Mom)]

Jackie, I totally agree. My kids have always known me to sew. My son was ok with it but not overjoyed. lol   I have seen the pictures with him smiling so I know he thinks it is great now!

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

I agree with you both.  Just saw these posts.  I used to take my son to the fabric store.  I would sit him a the pattern books.  I told him that if he sat good and didn't run around the store, that he could pick out fabric for a shirt.

 

in all of his school pictures from K5 to 8th grade, he is wearing a shirt that I made him and  he picked out the fabric for.