Camo Quilt project new to area’s Beyond the Yellow Ribbon
Bob and Mary Fredell hold up one of the camouflage quilts they made as part of the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Project. The quilts are given to soldiers fighting overseas or about to be deployed.
Beyond the Yellow Ribbon is spreading through the state of Minnesota. Especially in the surrounding area.
Isanti County is a Beyond-the-Yellow-Ribbon county.
The Beyond the Yellow Ribbon project began out of a need to help troops not only prepare for deployment and during deployment but also when they return to civilian life.
Bob Boone, head of the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon project, remembered how troops were treated after returning from the Vietnam War and he was determined that history would not repeat itself with the troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
“The military spends lots of time taking the citizen part out of citizen soldier,” Boone says, “and they need to take the time to put it back in when the soldiers come home.”
That’s what the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon project does, takes care of soldiers and their families before, during and after deployment for all generations of soldiers.
The Beyond the Yellow Ribbon project is a federally-mandated project for all states but it is not federally-funded and there are no set specifications for each state to adhere to.
In Isanti County, the project is funded almost 100 percent locally and helps all soldiers and families with any type of connection to Isanti County.
They help by providing support groups for families with a loved one overseas, rehabilitation assistance and even raking lawns.
Another way they help is by making camouflage quilts for soldiers serving overseas.
Bob and Mary Fredell are the organizers of the Isanti County Camo Quilt project. Bob first heard of the project through a family member who knew of Wisconsin’s quilt project.
The camo quilt project in Wisconsin has grown to be statewide and has produced over 8,000 quilts for soldiers in the four years of its existence. The quilts are made with the specific camouflage fabric of the United States Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, with their consent.
Bob and Mary decided to start quilting for the soldiers in and around Isanti County. The city of Cambridge gave them a space rent-free to do all the sewing and about 12-15 volunteers came forward to help with the project.
They buy the quilt kits, with the material already cut and ready to sew, for $20 a kit. The volunteers then meet on Mondays from 1-8 p.m. to sew the quilts together. On an average Monday night, they complete five quilts.
The quilts are two sided, with the Army quilts being waterproof on one side and roll-up neatly for easy transport. Before being sent, each quilt is packed with a pocket flag, which has been approved by the United States military, a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon patch and brochure about the program, and valentines made by local elementary students.
Since beginning their operation at the end of last year, they have completed 49 quilts and delivered five to local soldiers about to be deployed or already gone on assignment.
The quilts cost about $10.50 to mail to each soldier.
According to Bob, people have been very generous. Funds keep coming in and are put directly into the quilts.
“It’s not often that a project can say 100 percent of the donations go directly to the cause,” says Bob. “We’re fortunate to be able to say that.”
Anyone interested in learning more about the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon project or the Camo Quilt project can visit their web site www.beyondtheyellowribbonisanti.org. To learn how to start a project in your area visit www.beyondtheyellowribbon.org.
