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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DC - G'mother of My Fav Sailor]

Need some help!  We received this thank you note, sent to the LincolnLove e-mail address:

 

 

To the children at St. Mary’s School in Greensburg,

 

Thank you so much for the pillow case you made for me! It’s much more decorative and it smells better than my own pillow case! I’m going to put it on my pillow as soon as possible. You did a very nice job decorating all of those pillow cases for us. Thank you so very much from the Dental Department on the USS Abraham Lincoln!

 

Very  Respectfully,

HM2 

Dental Department

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)

 

We are having a problem because we do not know who coordinated St. Mary's School in Greensburg.  The children who decorated the pillowcases do deserve to know that they were appreciated.  So if you know who was responsible, please let us know.

 

Many thanks.

 

[Nancy]

I am the principal at St. Mary's School, and I coordinated those.  The kids will be so excited when I tell them how much of a difference they made to some sailors on the other side of the earth:)

Thanks for the note

Nancy Buening

Principal (and proud Navy mom)

St. Mary's School

[DC - G'mother of My Fav Sailor]

Nancy, thanks for letting us know.  I really want them to know and even searched for St. Mary's on the Internet.  If I had not found out here, I was going to contact the school.  The students are a very special group and deserve to know it.

[Nancy]

Just curious...the kids made about 50 of them....did they all go to the Dental Department?

[Michele]

Nancy, I believe you had 57 pillowcases. They were not specifically designated, so they would have been allocated to more than one department/division. Your students most definitely made a difference in these sailors' lives. While we never expect to receive any replies from those who receive our pillowcases, it is always humbling and exciting to receive their notes... especially when the pillowcases were made or contributed by students and schools. I'm so happy your students were able to receive a thank-you reply.

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

Yeah, all of VFA 34 have arrived and have been given out.  And they have extra which is great since we are short a couple of places.

 

I am seeing the light at the end of this long tunnel.

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

This was posted by Jackie yesterday:

 

this is my latest note from a sailor! I did write back to him and ask him if he knew of anyone who hadn't received one in his division. Hopefully the rest got them too! But it was a cute note!

Jackie

Hello

I received a really cool pillow case and I wanted to email you and tell you thank you oh so very much! I am not sure how or why I received it but it did make my day. I have it on my bed right now, and there were a bunch of my fellow shipmates were jealous that I received one and they didn’t J so that made me laugh pretty good. I am not sure if you knew that I liked baseball ( I don’t know how you would but…..) but I did think that it was pretty cool for my pillow case was a baseball one. I will tell you the story of how I received it. I just got off shift here on the boat, and I was heading to my rack (bed) to grab my soap and shower stuff and I see this pillow case neatly folded on my rack. At first I was like what is this for it was dark in my area. So I turned on the light and to my amazement, it saw your note and the pillow case, and it made me smile. I was having a long rough day and when I saw that it almost brought a tear to my eye (but shh don’t tell anyone) just to know that even with a lot of people back home not supporting us, to see that a total stranger cares about us and let alone me, well it made my day to say the least. So thanks again and have a great day.

CS3 Michael

 

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

got this special email today.  This pc was made by Janice aka grannyv. I checked with my legal advisor and it's okay to post name:

 

Sue,

 Thank you for the pillow case.  It is truly a keeper!  You have encouraged 1000s and they (we) are very appreciative.

 

Thank God for your creative and giving heart.  I will be sending out a prayer for you and your crew every time I see my pillow case.

 

Grace and Peace to you and Ray,

Tom

CDR Thomas B. Webber, CMD Chaplain

USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72)

 

 

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

another one:

Good Morning Mrs. Lamberson,

I would like to say thanks for the Dallas Cowboys Pillowcase that I received.  I was wondering how you knew to get me a pillowcase with my hometown sports team on it, but then I read your letter and saw my mom had something to do with it =-).  This is actually a gift that I like getting from people that support our country, it not only boosts my morale, but it also doesn’t take up space that I don’t already have. One again, thank you for the pillowcase, it is much appreciated. 

 V/r,

YN3 xxxxx

VFA 34

"Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth" -Proverbs 27:2

 

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

The one above is from  Lisa, Proud Texas mom's son. 

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

got this email today in reponse to my HAE year end update.  It is a good reminder of what an impact the pcs have.  I had no idea in Jan 2009 when I really got started with the pcs how much they would come to mean:

 

Sue, on our last visit to Walter Reed we checked in on a young Marine Lance Corporal who is  a quadruple amputee.   His only family is his mother  and she had to go back home for a while - he has no girlfriend, and his dad is estranged.  He has  a constant parade of walk through visitors he doesn't really know.  The principle decoration in his room is one of your pillow cases. He is very proud of that little gift, That pillow care is a thoughtful reminder that people do care.

Your little pillow cases are more meaningful than you can imagine.

Joe =:)

 

also, I mailed 180 more pcs on 1-3-11 to make up some shortages.  I will follow up on the reactor dept.

[Gwen]

Here is a picture of the Beutiful pillow case my sister made for my son her Navy Sailor. She also made ooodles more for other Sailors!  I am so proud to be a part of this, words cannot express!