Additional Award Winners

Kathie Buckley of Woodbridge, VA won "Best Group" Award.

Other Participants: KC, Erin, and Diana Buckley

Quilt source: The pattern for the moose and pine trees came from The Spirit of the Northwoods by Debbie Fields. The tiger, figure eight, and submarine were inspired by the squadron patch.

Quilt Stories: I created this quilt to commemorate my husband's command tour of Patrol Squadron EIGHT (tiger), NAS Brunswick, Maine (runway). In March, 2005 on the flight home from visiting him in Japan where he was deployed, I sketched the beginnings of this quilted collage. My husband was “Tiger 56”, the 56th commanding officer (command pin) of VP-8 (P3 Orion). During his tenure the squadron participated in various memorable feats apart from its traditional anti-submarine warfare mission: Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom (footprints), Operation Unified Assistance: the search for tsunami survivors in Indonesia (wave), Japan deployment (Samurai), and detachment to Australia (fabric). It was a very busy time. Still, there was time to enjoy our family (photo), friends, and surroundings. Lobster races across the kitchen floor, learning to play ice hockey (hockey stick), and our first moose sighting in Rangeley are only a few of the lasting memories we treasure from Maine. Though this xciting time lasted only 12 months, it represented the pinnacle of his 19-year Naval aviation career. I hope that he enjoys my interpretation and knows that I am very proud of his accomplishments. As with so many good intentions, this quilt was left unfinished for years until I received word of the Thread Tails and Vapor Trails Quilt Challenge. Inspired by a hard deadline and renewed interest in documenting this important milestone, I adjusted the size by adding additional elements and enlisting the help of my 3 daughters.

Dottie Harouff and the 3rd Grade class at BLUE ANGELS ELEMENTARY of Pensacola, FL received "Best Youth Entry" Award.

Quilt Stories: I had originally purchased the fabric markers and fabric to make a Quilt of Valor. When this opportunity was announced, I decided to use the fabric for this. Most of the children in my granddaughter's class were very excited to paint the pictures. The teacher said she wasn't an artist but the students convinced her to paint a block. I plan to give the quilt to the school.

Edie Marion Petrock of Golden, CO received the "Supporting Our Troops" Award.

Quilt Full Description: Photographs taken when my son's carrier, the Theodore Roosevelt, returned from Afghanistan, were digitally manipulated, machine appliqued and machine quilted. It represents Naval aviators' families and honors their sacrifices and support for their loved ones. The Hawaian style commorates Pearl Harbor and all the Daddies who didn't come home.

Quilt Stories: This quilt honors the families of Naval aviators whose support and sacrifice often goes unnoticed. The photos are of my son, Cmdr. Christopher Petrock, United States Naval Academy 1992, and his family. He commands an F-18 squadron.

Gloria Hasslacher of Sterling, VA received the "Most Humorous Quilt" Award.

Description: This quilt depicts “Blue Angel” fish transforming into the Blue Angel planes.

Anne Marie Bailey of Fort Collins, CO received the "Honoring Our Veterans" Award.

Quilt Full Description: Pieced, appliqued, embellished quilt honoring an individual Naval Aviator: Harley H. Hall; center panel of aircraft carrier with F4 Phantom in flight; surrounded with battle stars, depicting Capt. Hall's Vietnam War experiences.

Quilt Stories: This story quilt is an account of Harley H. Hall, a Naval aviator with whom my husband flew in Vietnam. It is about a man whom we grew to know, like, and respect. It chronicles his cruises aboard the Ranger, his command of the Blue Angels, and his subsequent re-deployment aboard the USS Enterprise. On the last day of hostilities, he was shot down, and never returned. He was regarded as a "marvel," ( RADM Tom Brown, ret); It was said of him, "Harley was a good pilot, a good VF driver, and a good thinker, a man of honor," by Capt Dan MacIntyre, USN Ret, himself a former Blue Angel. He is one of the un-sung heroes of Naval aviation; this quilt is dedicated to him.

Kim Loarof Lancaster, PA received the "Women in Aviation" Award.

Quilt source: Pattern is an adaptation of "Two Harbors" designed by Laura Boehnke as a free pattern for RJR. Permission has been sought and received from RJR to use this pattern.

Quilt Stories: This quilt was made to honor Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service)and their service to our country in WWII. These women stood up and volunteered in many different capacities to aid in the war effort,including Naval Aviation. My mother was a Navy Wave. I am very proud of the fact that she was part of the war effort along with thousands of other women. This quilt was made to honor those women who took on very non-traditional roles in aviation in their service to the USA.

Ayn Hanna of Fort Collins, CO won the "Best Use of Aviation Theme" Award.

Quilt Full Description: Whole Cloth hand-dyed, appliqued,stenciled, painted, and printed. Machine quilted.

Quilt Stories: This quilt is in honor of Navy Pilot and Commander W.J. "Bill" Catlett III. As a Navy Test Pilot, Bill flew many different aircraft ranging from supersonic fighters to Dehaviland Otters and Beavers, to Gliders and Helicopters. He was CO of the VA-87 Golden Warriors, flying primarily A-7E Corsair IIs aboard many aircraft carriers and was the first pilot to achieve 600 carrier landings aboard USS America. The quilt is a collage of some of the many aircraft Bill has flown along with dials and gauges from the cockpits.