The Agent Orange Victims and Widows Support Network and the Quilts
of Tears Project acknowledge and endorse the "In Memory
Plaque Project". It is a very fine tribute in honor of those
who lost their lives after their return home, as a result of
their tour of duty in Vietnam. I salute Ruth Coder Fitzgerald
for pursuing this project to honor her brother and those like
him who have lost their lives to Agent Orange. I am very pleased
to see that her dream/desire will at last be realized.
Sincerely, Jennie Le Fevre
Agent Orange Widow
About the Agent Orange Quilts of Tears:
The Vietnam Veteran Agent Orange Quilts of
Tears are a memorial, tribute and honor to our Agent Orange Victims,
living and dead. who have suffered the after effects of the herbicides
used in Vietnam. Herbicides were sprayed by aircraft to destroy
foliage, thus denying the enemy ground cover and their food supply
Twenty million gallons of herbicides were used in Vietnam of
which 12 million gallons was Agent Orange. Our service men were
told it was harmless. We have found out since that the herbicides,
including Agent Orange, causes may severe health problems and
cancers. Agent Orange contained dioxin, the most toxic chemical
developed by man.
The quilt project was founded by Jennie Le Fevre, an Agent Orange
widow, also President of the Agent Orange Victims and Widows
Support Network. The project was founded and established by Ms.
Le Fevre, to honor and recoginize the plight of the Agent Orange
Victims and their families. Agent Orange has been interwoven
into fabric of lives of the victims and their families, the Quilts
of Tears is their story, told eloquently by their own families
in each block. The blocks are adorned with the victim's picture,
their Vietnam service information, their health status as related
to Agent Orange, etc, etc. Love, pain, and sorrow can be seen
in each block. The blocks are then sewn into quilts that are
displayed nationwide at Vietnam Veterans' reunions and functions.
Many health problems and cancers we believe to be a result of
exposure to Agent Orange are not acknowledged by the Department
of Veterans Affairs. Possibly 250,00 deaths had resulted from
Agent and many families and widows have not been compensated
for the loss of their loved ones. The veterans who are still
living appreciate the honor and respect the Quilts of Tears give
them. For the families who have lost someone to this great tragedy,
the Quilts facilitate a healing process. It is said there is
no room on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall for these victims,
but in our minds there is Room in our hearts and on these Quilts.
The Quilts of Tears are to draw a national attention of the Vietnam
Veteran effected by the Agent Orange sprayed on them in Vietnam
The quilts are called the "Quilts of Tears" for many
tears have been shed for these victims. One veteran stated that
the "Quilts of Tears" was the most moving piece of
art he had seen since the Wall in Washington, D.C. At present
there are 12 Quilts, each measing 80 x 100 inches and containing
20 blocks.
Our hope is that these men and women will never be forgotten.
These victims gave up two lives, the one they were living and
the one they would have lived. Their recognition must come from
their families and the American people. Our Quilts of Tears pay
tribute to their suffering and sacrifices. Family members, friends
and others interested are encouraged to submit blocks in honor
or memory of their loved ones affected by Agent Orange.
We need 20 x 20- inch quilt block with orange backgrounds. The
blocks may contain embroidery, cross-stitch, patchwork, applique,
lettering or wording done in fabric pen or paint of color desired.
Information on the block should include the veteran's name, rank,
if desired, branch of service, date of year or years served in
Vietnam, unit in Vietnam, and where the veteran was stationed.
You may include the veteran's picture, unit, insignia, medal
presentations, birth date, age at death and cause of death. If
veteran is still alive, state health problems. Please include
one block 20 x 20- inch to be used for the backing. All quilters
are encouraged to participate.
The Quilts will be displayed on the banks of the Reflecting Pool
in Washington D.C. every Memorial Day weekend. The Quilts of
Tears have been displayed from Salt Lake City, Utah to the Catskills
of N.Y. The Quilts are available for display in your area but
transportation and lodging must be provided for the person accompanying
the Quilts, they are never loaned out by themselves. They have
been displayed at many Vietnam Veterans reunions, functions and
gatherings, sometimes in conjunction with the Moving Wall.
The Quilts of Tears have letters of acknowledgement and endorsement
from Vietnam Veterans of America Inc. in Washington D.C., also
from the late Admiral Zumwalt, former Commander of Naval Forces
in Vietnam. They have also been mentioned on the Congressional
Record. Our heartfelt thanks goes out to all who take part in
this effort. We are deeply moved by your willingness to share
your creativity in this endeavor.
Send your completed quilt block to Agent Orange Victims and Widows
Support Network, Jennie R. Le Fevre, 6400 W. Shady Side Rd, Shady
Side, Md. 20764.
You can write to Jennie at the address
above, or contact her by telephone or e-mail:
410-867-0584 ~~~~
jlefe336558 @aol.com
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