USS New York has been delivered!

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

Hi fabulous crew!
I am pleased to announced that the Heads at Ease pillowcase crew will be sending 362 pillowcases to the USS New York sometime after the commissioning!

And this all started with Dori wanting a very special pillowcase for Chris, her granddaughter's boyfriend.
Lyn graciously offered to make it and WOW! What a fabulous job she did. Lyn decided to make 3 more of the special embroidered ones.

And then I said to Lyn and Dori- Let's do the whole ship! Getting information was a challenge at first, but then I got out my trusty Norfolk phone book and said my famous line "let me make a few phone calls".

I got the official word from the NY ombudsman tonight, that we are a go. Here's the breakdown of the numbers:
282 male sailors, 77 female sailors, 3 male marines

While I have wanted to keep our pillowcases to deployed men and women, there is something about this ship that just tugs my heart. I guess because part of it is made out of the WTC and that belongs to all of us. I wish I could be at the commissioning, but will settle for providing a handmade pillowcase for each crew member who will serve on this ship.

NOW ladies. Many of you have stepped up to the plate when it was just a mystery. Truthfully, we have the required number of pillowcases already made or commited. I have 128 set aside right now. If you would like to have a part in this wonderful project, then please let Dori know as she is the keeper of the count.

Just hold unto them until Betty and I figure out the best way to deliver these pillowcases.

I am very excited. And I must share this with you all! 2 weeks ago I sent 116 of the pillowcases that I had on hand for the NY to the Army National Guard troop. I put out a plea for help to replace that number. 7 days later, I had 125 pillowcases! God is good. He replaced them quickly and in a greater quantity than I gave away.

I have promised to keep my "grubby mitts" off of this batch (they are in a box and covered up-I pretend they aren't there haha), but I couldn't let a deployed group go unloved when we didn't have a confirmation as yet.

So, anyone else want to get involved? Every sailor and marine will have a custom designed, prayed over and made with Navy mom love pillowcase to brighten up their rack/living space. Will they all be embroidered? No. But they all will show the love that the people of the United States of America have for our troops.

Our own Navy mom Ally and her family did the deliery on 12-7-09. 1 month after the commissioning and a very fitting day for our country. Betty, the omsbudman did an outstanding job of coordinating this for us. Be proud ladies!

[Melinda]

That is so wonderful, Sue! Thank you so much. I can't sew, but if I can help some other way, just let me know. My son is on the USS New York and I'm going to the commissioning next week - woo-hoo! I am thrilled that he'll get one of your beautiful pillow cases!

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

That is exciting! Well, we can always use fabric and/or money for shipping. Many moms have shopped and then mailed fabric to our sewers around the country. So let me know if either of those 2 options work for you. Also, if you pm your personal email address, I will send you the HAE letter that you could forward to your family and friends.

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

thanks Anita! You are a great supporter of HAE!!!!

[DC - G'mother of My Fav Sailor]

We have enough pillowcases but we have not figured out the numbers for females. I know Sue has some and I have a couple but I would like some firm numbers.

Second, if you did anything special on your pillowcases, please let me know. For example, when we were doing only Chris's berthing cube, Barbara (Derek's Mom) made some hearts for me with the USS NY and 11/7/09 on them. We want to be sure to have special ones scattered throughout ship.

Since Sue is our backup to make up sufficient numbers, the more we can provide as a group, the more she has in reserve for future projects. This is what allowed her to respond so quickly to the Guard unit. So she will be one who ships last.

Here's what I have so far:

Pat (Sue's friend), 32
Dori, 21 + 2 female
Ally, 66
Lyn, 36 (special ones)
Michelle, 30
SeaHartz, 10
Carolyn (my friend), 14
Mary Ellen, 15
Barbara (Derek), 20
Matts Mom, 10

Sue has enough to make up the difference.

[Tamara]

Sue,
I would be grateful if I could donate some money/and or fabric. My son is on the USS New York. How do I donate money/fabric to you?

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

Tamara,
if you would add me as a friend and give me your email address, I will send you the information. And by the way,
Pat and Carolyn are not Navy moms. Just friends of me and Dori who believe in our troops.

I have many "honorary" navy moms in Tucson helping also. If the donations from Navy moms is really helpful.

thank you!

[Proud ABH Mom]

There is a nice article on navy.mil about the USS New York.

Love the commitment and the excitement that this group brings. Sue, you summed up the project & purpuse well....."they all will show the love that the people of the United States of America have for our troops. "

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

I also have the 3 marines already made. But someone donated some r,w,b marine fabric, so I think I will make that up. It depends on when we figure out a delivery date.

I am thinking that everyone will want to have at least 1 pillowcase on this ship. Dori is right. I have the numbers to make up the difference, but the less that I have to do, the more I have on reserve for other deployed units.

I am going to post a new thread about the November and December plans for HAE. The USS New York is just a special extra project that we did for America. I can't tell you how many $1.00 bills I have received in the mail (well I could, but don't want to go get the file and count right now). I have sent everyone a thank you postcard cause I want everyone to know how important their donation is.

And I even got a $1.00 from a deployed Air Force man recently-made me cry.

I have 22 definite female. Meaning florals or fru fru looking. Some patriotic. We don't have to have 77 definite female as they might just like another print, but would be good to know how many we are sending for sure.

[LLovesmysailor]

Sue, I have the Marine corps logo on my machine. With you guys helping with the Christmas stocking group, I will have time to put the logo on 3 pillowcases. If you want send them to me. My new sewing studio is less than a week from being finished!

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

The marine fabric that I have is pretty busy, so don't know if that is needed. I will look at it again today.

But, I do have some special fabric for the chaplain and was wondering you could do something for him There is only one.

[DC - G'mother of My Fav Sailor]

Idle question...is there a Rabbi on the ship?

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

I asked how many chaplains and she said 1, but I didn't ask that question. I will though, thanks for thinking ahead Dori!

and Pat has 48 finished. Dori, do you want to give a deadline for when they need to be done? I think we could start to have them sent to your brother anytime that he says okay. that is the only way to know for sure how many are coming.