Lytle Stitchers and their Lap Quilts

Here are two true stories about the "Lytle Stitcher"

From the Lytle Leader News

Local groups make quilts for wounded soldiers

Dee Cromer head of Lytle Stitchers, looks over one of the new patriotic quilts donated for the

soldiers wounded in the “War on Terror”. The quilt, with various animals embroidered

inside the embroidered stars, was constructed by Benton City quilter, Eileen Naegelin.

Lytle State Bank has provided space in the bank lobby to help the Lytle Stitchers with their effort to provide quilts for wounded soldiers returning from the War on Terror.

“We think it is a great effort and wanted to help out in some way” said Bank President Franklin Wanjura.

“If we help show what they are doing, maybe more people will get involved in the project.”

Most of those who have already completed a quilt received a length of fabric printed with patches of “Old Glory” and alternate patches of stars from the Lytle Stitchers. Twenty seven hundred yards of that fabric was donated to Kalico and Keepsakes shop and the Lytle Stitchers by Spring Textiles, Inc. of North Carolina. The quilters have cut much of the fabric into lengths of 45’ x 55” to make the quilts.

“Most people take that length and it makes a nice quilt,” said Dee Cromer, head of the Lytle Stitchers and owner of the Kalico and Keepsakes shop. “Some people decorate the fabric and quilt it themselves but most just decorate it and send it back to us to do the quilting.”

Quilts have been decorated by by school children, businesses, civic groups and even individual the families. Designs vary from handprint angels by school children to footprints for feet that stand for freedom from a local family, written messages from a number of businesses and even Bible verses from churches.

The stitchers are working to complete their third hundred quilts to be sent to comfort wounded soldiers on their way into the hospitals at Bethesda, Maryland and now others that are being sent to Scott AFB in Illinois near St. Louis.  Two hundred quilts were sent from Wilford Hall to Balad AB Hospital in Iraq.  Wednesday, March 9th, Maryland Jones, Director of Volunteer Services and Msgt Kimberly Spencer, Public Affairs Specialist, both of Wilford Hall, arrived in Lytle to accept the donation of another 60 quilts for the soldiers.

There is an interesting local connection to all these quilts that South Texans are making and sending to the troops.  Lt. Col. Tim Maxwell of San Antonio was wounded in the war and when he reached Andrews AFB on his way to Bethesda, he was given a quilt, only to find out it was from Lytle, where his aunt Margie Grothues lives. It must have been like the fingers of home reaching out to comfort him, when he was in a very scary place.

If you or your organization is interested in participating in the effort to comfort to wounded soldiers, contact Dee Cromer at Kalico and Keepsakes in Lytle at ###-###-####. She will be able to provide you with a length of fabric to decorate or information on how you can help in this effort to support the troops.

Lytle State Bank is sponsoring a display by the Lytle Quilters, centering on their efforts to provide patriotic quilts for troops injured in the “War on Terror”. Above, quilter Eileen Naegelin of Benton City; Lytle State Bank President Franklin Wanjura; Bank Vice President Randy Garcia; head of the Lytle Stitchers and owner of Kalico and Keepsakes shop in Lytle, Dee Cromer; Msgt. Kimberly Spencer, public affairs specialist of Wilford Hall and Maryland Jones, Director of Volunteer Services at Wilford Hall gathered at the bank to look over some of the new contributions to the effort.

From The Kelly USA Observer, dated Thursday, April 7, 2005

A Common Thread - Support for wounded warriors reaches across America

By Master Sgt. Kimberly Spencer

Lackland AFB, 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs

Army Corporal Aaron Webber enjoys a lap quilt stitched by the “Lytle Stitchers,” and

 given to him at the 332nd Aeromedical Staging Facility at Balad Air Base, Iraq.

Corp. Webber is awaiting transportation to Germany. (Photo by Capt. Lisa Adams)

      Americans all across the country are watching the news coverage of the war in Iraq and asking, “How can I show my support for our brave military men and women?”

     Many have answered the question by providing phone cards, donating frequent flyer miles or sending letters and messages to our troops.

     A group of local quilters in the San Antonio area have found a way to do what they do best, and support those who need it most, our wounded veterans.

     Stitched with love and gratitude, lap quilts just big enough to cover the legs of those in wheelchairs or on stretchers are being sent to warm the wounded fighting the war on terrorism.

     For military retiree Larry Cromer and his wife Dee, the owners of a local quilt shop in Lytle, Texas, it was the perfect answer.

“It really hit home,” said Mrs. Cromer. “Here is something we I can do. We need to appreciate the members of the armed forces that are overseas fighting for us and if they’re injured, we can try to make life a little better for them by sending love stitched in each quilt.”

     Their desire to help has spun across America from Texas to Maryland, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, bringing a variety of people together with one common thread supporting our troops.

     The Texas quilters began to sew and send lap quilts in answer to a call from a Maryland guild, which provides the quilts to the injured returning from the war in Iraq at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. The base was initially the first national stop for returning war fighters.

     The Lytle quilter’s project soon began to grow as they enlisted the help of customers and friends, going from a handful to now over 30 individuals.  Known as the “Lytle Stitchers” they meet every Wednesday sharing fellowship and laughter as they work.   

     Most have ties to the military. While heavy on Air Force connections, all branches of the service are represented.  As word spread, other local guilds have joined them, bringing in quilts from across the San Antonio area.

     Mr. Cromer also contacted a quilters’ chat room sharing the story of what they were doing and asking for quilters to send blocks of fabric with patriotic themes and colors. They now receive quilts and blocks of fabric from all over America. Norma Koth, a Pennsylvania quilter in her seventies, has sent 15 hand stitched quilts so far. A North Carolina based fabric company donated 2,300 yards of patriotic material, which has now dwindled to less than 300 yards.

Local Girl Scout troops, church youth organizations and schools have taken fabric squares to decorate. Small handprints become angels or hearts, while little footprints share space with the words “Stand for Freedom.” Others draw pictures or write poems for the troops. Material is available for groups who would like to send messages to the wounded war _ fighters.

Each red, white and blue quilt is sewn with a label which reads, “To: An American Hero, From: The Lytle Stitchers.”

“In a small community you do for each other,” Mrs. Cromer said. “It’s wonderful how this project has spilled out to the world. These soldiers come from every state imaginable and we want them all to know we thank them and appreciate them.”

Mr. Cromer, a Vietnam veteran who served 23 years in the Air Force, is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment for lung cancer at Wilford Hall.  He and wife Dee are now working with the Wilford Hall Volunteer Services Director, Maryland Jones, to send quilts directly to the wounded troops being cared for by the hospital staff running the field hospital at Balad Air Base, Iraq.

“It’s wonderful how this project has brought our community closer together,” said Ms. Jones. “It has touched the hearts of so many and just keeps growing.”

As more and more injured troops are being cared for in other areas of the United States, the “Lytle Stitchers” have begun sending quilts to Scott AFB, Ill, as well as Brooke Army and Wilford Hall Medical Centers here in San Antonio.

The Cromer’s have received numerous cards and letters of thanks from family members and the wounded soldiers themselves.

Humble when praised for their many contributions, the couple explains that the hand-and machine-stitched quilts are an extension of the community’s love for the brave men and women serving today.

“We’ll keep sewing as long as there’s a soldier being injured,” Mrs. Cromer said. “I can see it may take many, many quilts.”

“A quilt means so many things,” said ‘Lytle Stitcher’ Kitty Janiga.  “Warmth, cheer and eating, as well as something for the soldiers to wrap themselves in.  They’re perfect, what’s better than a quilt?”

Anyone interested in helping can contact Mr. and Mrs. Cromer at ###-###-####.

The ‘Lytle Stitchers” display lap quilts made to send to wounded military members fighting the war on terrorism.

 The group meets every Wednesday in a small quilt shop in Lytle, Texas. (Photo by Master Sgt. Kimberly Spencer)