Grandma Sews Pillowcases for Soldiers

Blackanthem Military News, Camp Liberty, Iraq, December 29, 2005 13:11

A retired Florida schoolteacher wants Task Force Baghdad soldiers to have sweet dreams, or, at the very least, lay their heads on brightly-colored pillows each night.

Many people in the United States do whatever they can to help soldiers cope with a deployment by sending care packages and letters of thanks and appreciation.

Debbie Leslie, of Clearwater, Fla., howe'ver, found a unique way of sharing her gratitude for soldiers serving in Iraq with her handmade pillowcases.

"It's so little for me to do, especially if it brings the thought of home and that someone is thinking of them, thanking them, and praying for their safe return," Leslie said.

She spends her free time with a local quilt guild and through her craft finds the time and energy to send batches of pillowcases to soldiers serving in Iraq.

The 71-year-old grandmother of two has close ties to the military. Her son is serving in the Navy. Being the mother of a military man gives her insight into the sacrifices military personnel make each day, she said.

Being creative, Leslie uses different themes and patterns for her pillowcases.

"Most were patriotic, but she also added some patterns that would appeal to females more than males," said Sgt. Robert J. Mayo, operational law noncommissioned officer-in-charge with Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division.

Mayo said that when the pillowcases arrived they were popular with the troops and "were gone in no time."

"I realized there were some NASCAR fans in our group, so I asked her if she could make a couple of NASCAR pillowcases and she was more than happy to make them," Mayo said.

Leslie has sent nearly 100 pillowcases in five separate shipments.

"Everyone I have shown the pillowcases to has loved them," Mayo said. "A lot of soldiers want to get more than one pillowcase."

Aside from pillowcases, Leslie has also made a lot of friends. Many troops regularly exchange letters and e-mail with her.

By Spc. Maria Mengrone / Task Force Baghdad