Milly – Part 8

Posted on August 4, 2021 by Jennie

In Part 7, the God Bless America quilt was delivered to the Massachusetts Fisher House in Boston.  The plan was to have a grand event and send-off, but the Director asked if Boston could have the quilt.  Headquarters not only agreed, they approved.  So, Milly and the children gave the quilt a memorable farewell, including singing our book for soldiers staying at the Fisher House.

Part 8

A month later, Beth who is the Director at the Fisher House called me.

“Jennie, the Fisher House will have its one-year anniversary in July.  When that happens, members of the Fisher family come to celebrate, along with many others.  It’s a big event.”

The only celebration  I knew of was that Congressional Medal of Honor recipients attend the grand opening of a new Fisher House.

Beth continued…

“We would like you, Milly, and the children to be the guests of honor.  The quilt will be the main event.”

Gulp!  I was taken aback.

“Beth, that is wonderful, but…”  I didn’t have a chance to finish the sentence.

“The invitations have just gone out.  The quilt is the main feature on the invitation.”

Oh my goodness. There it was, Home Sweet Home, right on the invitation.

I couldn’t wait to tell Milly.

“Jennie, there’s one more thing.  We’d like the children to sing “God Bless America” and present the quilt to the Fisher family and guests.”

Another gulp!  This was big.  Much bigger than I expected.  It took a while to sink in.  The quilt was as important to the Fisher House as it was to Milly and to me and to the children.

Milly was as surprised as I was… and just as delighted.

I notified families.  Many children were able to attend.  We all stood in front of the quilt, in front of a big audience.  Big.  I gave an impromptu speech, telling the guests about the evolution of the quilt.  I told them about the children singing, and how they needed more. I told them about Milly and how she made the words come alive with the quilt.

You could have heard a pin drop.  They wanted more.

I decided to recite the words to the song and point out each part on the quilt as I said the words.  I was all over the place- talking, walking and pointing.  It was much the same as when I read aloud chapter books.  No words were necessary from the audience, their faces said it all.

Then Milly and the children sang their hearts out.  Oh, how they sang! We received a huge round of applause.  That broke the ice, and the thanks and handshakes and smiles exploded.

A  Fisher Foundation Vice President approached Milly with a handshake, pressing something into her hand.  I knew exactly what was happening- she was giving Milly a Command (Challenge) Coin!  I was humbled to witness this happening.  I watched the ‘secret handshake’, which appears to the naked eye to be  a simple exchange of respect, yet holds the surprise of the coin for the recipient.  I understood.  I told Milly all about Command Coins afterwards.  This would mean far more to her than I realized.  Her last words to me years later were about that coin (later post).

The letters of thanks poured in.  And then Milly became sick.  Kidney failure.

She was still the same Milly on the inside.  I asked her to do another quilt
about our school, our towns.  Everyone wanted a quilt to hang at school.
The next adventure began.  Stay tuned for Part 9.

Jennie

Posted in America, Early Education, geography, Giving, Inspiration, military, patriotism, preschool, quilting, Singing, Teaching young children, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , | 56 Comments

Moments #1

Posted on August 3, 2021 by Jennie

Never take for granted the little moments.

Look up.  See what is right there.  It won’t last, but the moment is there.  Now.
Nature in all her beauty and color is a living art show, waiting to be seen.

Look down.  Julia has paid a visit.

Be there, in the present.  Children may need your arms.
They trust you and love you.

Yes, moments.
Ah, there are more, with a deeper meaning.
#2 says it all.  Stay tuned.

Jennie

Posted in Giving thanks, Inspiration, joy, Nature, wonder | Tagged , , , | 66 Comments

Milly – Part 7

Posted on August 2, 2021 by Jennie

In Part 6, the quilt, Milly, and the children were VIPs aboard the Intrepid Museum in NYC.  What an event!  The museum’s Curator called me to say the quilt was too large to hang at the museum.  Their Executive Board unanimously agreed to give the quilt to the Fisher House Foundation – which was started by Zachary Fisher, who also rescued the USS Intrepid.  So, we were off again…

Part 7

We arrived at the Massachusetts Fisher House with children and families in tow to deliver the quilt.  It was to be a proper send-off.  In turn, they would send the quilt on to the Fisher House Foundation.

Beth the Director abruptly excused herself to make a phone call.  She had seen the quilt and looked rather shocked.  We all looked at each other in very uncomfortable silence.  It didn’t help that you could hear a pin drop in this new, way-too-quiet house.

“Jennie, I have just called the Fisher Foundation and have spoken with their Director.”

“Okay…”  I had no idea where this was going.  Maybe they didn’t want to mail something so large?  Oh please, don’t let everything fall apart, especially not in front of Milly and the children.  Boy, was I wrong!

“We want the quilt.  We would be proud to hang it here.  Do you know how many families with children stay at the Fisher House?  Think what it would mean to them, do for them, to see this quilt every day.”

My mind was scrambling to switch gears.  And, I was taken aback thinking of the families of soldiers and sailors.  Who really needs to see this quilt?  They do.  Think Jennie, the quilt would make a difference.

“I have worked this out with the Fisher Foundation.  They think it is a wonderful idea.  What do you think?”

I looked at Milly.  She nodded and smiled.  Even her eyes smiled.

“I think that would be wonderful, Beth.  Thank you.  Where will you hang the quilt?”

“Come with me.”

We all trotted over to the living room, the main room in the house.  Hanging in a place of prominence was a large abstract oil painting.  It was black and white, a series of sharp lines that looked like something angry.  Goodbye ugly painting, and hello beautiful quilt.

At last the children were able to get back to the quilt presentation.

We sang “God Bless America” for a small crowd.  Then we presented Beth with a copy of our book.  It would be there at the house for children and families to read (photos of the inside of the book are in Part 5):

“Jennie, we have some soldiers here in the den.  Can you and the children sing “God Bless America” for them?  Could you sing to them with the book?”

And so we did.  With the book.  That was perhaps the most moving time I have ever had singing “God Bless America.”  One soldier said to me as soon as we finished, “That book needs to go to the Wounded Warrior Project.  It really does.  It’s wonderful.”

I had no idea what the Wounded Warrior Project was.

“They need to put that book into the hands of people.  Everyone needs this.”  The soldier went on and on in great excitement.  It was as if the book would give people another layer of pride, something pure from young children.  I understood.  And, I thanked her.

“No, thank you.” she said.  I was choked up.  All I could do was nod my head- about a hundred times.

And so, the God Bless America quilt hangs proudly at the Massachusetts Fisher House.  I’m so glad!

When we got back home, I contacted Jessica, the Curator at the Intrepid Museum, to get an appropriate contact for the Wounded Warrior Project.  I envisioned they might do something like give a copy of the “God Bless America” book for a donation of a certain amount of money.  Well, that story did not have a happy ending.  My kind letter to the Wounded Warrior Project (he was high up the ladder) along with the book was returned with a rather curt note of  “Not interested.  We have no use for this.”  And that was that.  I still think the soldier was right, and Wounded Warrior was wrong.  Sometimes life just goes like that.

School was nearly over.  I got a call from Beth at the Fisher House.  Apparently, when a new Fisher House is built, Congressional Medal of Honor recipients are there at the grand opening.  Can you imagine?  And then, on the one-year anniversary of a new Fisher House, there is another celebration.  Members of the Fisher family and many other guests are there.  How exciting!

I thought perhaps Beth just wanted me to know.  Then, I thought perhaps I would be on the guest list, or maybe Milly would be on the guest list.  Wrong on both counts.  Her call was far different.  I was shocked… stay tuned for Part 8.

Jennie

Posted in America, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Giving, Inspiration, military, patriotism, preschool, quilting, Singing, Teaching young children, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , , | 57 Comments

John Kraft

Posted on August 1, 2021 by Jennie

Dear Fellow Bloggers,

John Kraft, the witty and humorous blogger, has died.  His blog, Down the Hall on Your Left, was one of the first blogs I followed.  From trips to Ireland, to crime serials, to life at Starbucks, his posts were some of the best.  I will miss him dearly.

Blogging friends are as precious as the friends we have in our everyday lives.  Rest in Peace, John.

Jennie

Posted in Uncategorized | 79 Comments

Reading Aloud

Posted on August 1, 2021 by Jennie

A picture is worth a thousand words.

A good friend sent me this photo
reading to her grandchild.
It is never too early to read aloud to a child.
A child is never too young to hear words while seeing pictures.
Pleasure and learning, all the senses on alert.

Jennie

Posted in children's books, Early Education, Inspiration, picture books, reading, reading aloud, reading aloud, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 79 Comments

Milly – Part 6

Posted on July 31, 2021 by Jennie

In Part 5, the children were over the moon singing “God Bless America” at every opportunity.  We sang for soldiers, and made our own God Bless America book for families, writing and illustrating all the words to the song.  Children still wanted more- I could tell.  Milly to the rescue to make a God Bless America quilt.  The Intrepid Museum in NYC was interested in the quilt!

Part 6

The USS Intrepid was a US Navy aircraft carrier commissioned in WWII and in service through the Vietnam war.  When it was decommissioned in 1974, Zachary Fisher  rescued the ship.  It was restored and opened as a museum in 1982.

I did not know of Zachary Fisher.  He becomes important to the quilt later on.

The children and Milly were treated like kings and queens aboard the Intrepid.  First, we were rescued from the long line by the museum’s Curator and whisked onto the carrier.  We had a personal two-hour tour.  I remember all the old, beautiful brass used throughout the ship, the tight quarters, and displays of Navy memorabilia.  The flight deck is home to many different aircraft.  That part of the ship alone is well worth the visit:

The quilt was put on display in the central part of the ship.  The Curator and other staff were present to see it and give us an official welcome.  The public visited the quilt, oohing and aahing, and asking Milly questions.  And then, the children were asked to sing!  With Milly’s beautiful voice leading the children, “God Bless America” could be heard throughout the ship.  There were school groups who stopped by, excited to see the quilt and ask questions.  I enjoyed asking them to find different parts of the song on the quilt, much like an I Spy.  That was fun!

As our visit was nearing an end, Jessica the Curator pulled me aside to have a talk with me.

“Jennie, the quilt is absolutely stunning.  Thank you so much.  Our Executive Board meets the first of each month, and the quilt is on their agenda.  I will be calling you soon.”

Awesome!

A few weeks later Jessica called.

“Jennie, I have good news, although not what you imagine.”

“Okay.”  My heart was pounding.

“The Executive Board feels the quilt isn’t the right size for the Intrepid Museum.  Space and hanging will pose a problem.  It’s too large for the very limited wall space on the hanger deck.”

“I understand.”  My heart was sinking.

“They have made a unanimous decision.  Unanimous!  They love the quilt.”

“Okay.”  My heart was soaring.

“Do you know of Zachary Fisher?”

“I believe he was the guy who rescued the USS Intrepid and turned it into a museum.  Right?”

“Right.  But he did much more than that.  He was a philanthropist and a great supporter of the Armed Forces.  He established many different foundations.  One of the biggest and most important is the Fisher House Foundation.  They provide “homes away from home” for families of hospitalized military personnel.”

“Wow.  Like Ronald McDonald houses for families of sick children?”

“Exactly.  The Executive Board wants to donate the quilt to the Fisher House Foundation.  I hope you agree with me and with the Board that this is quite an honor.”

“Of course, Jessica.  And thank you so much.”

So, the God Bless America would take another twist and turn.  Milly thought this was one of the best adventures.  “Jennie, we had a great trip to the Intrepid.  They wanted to see the quilt and have us visit.  And now, there is something new.”  I just love(d) Milly.  First, I received a phone call from the head of the Fisher House Foundation.  Obviously the Intrepid Museum had been in touch.  They’re located in Rockville, Maryland.

We decided it would be appropriate and fun for the children to deliver the quilt themselves to a Fisher House in Boston.  In that way, it would be more ceremonious and meaningful.  And, more children and families could attend since this would be nearby- not in New York City.  The Fisher House could then mail it to the Foundation.

Perfect.  Or so I thought.

We arranged for this big event.  Everyone wore red, white and blue.  We all met at the Fisher House, which had just been built that year (an important part later).  Beth, the Director, greeted Milly and the children with such warmth.  We were escorted into the living room where we unveiled the quilt.  Beth’s eyes were as big as saucers.  She hadn’t said anything.  Then she said, “Will you please excuse me while I go make a phone call?”  When she returned, I never expected to hear what she was about to say… stay tuned for Part 7.

Jennie

Posted in America, art, Early Education, Giving, history, Inspiration, military, museums, patriotism, preschool, quilting, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 53 Comments

Smorgasbord Blogger Daily – Thursday July 29th 2021 – #Olympics Pete Springer, #Patchwork Jennie Fitzkee, #Research Jacqui Murray

Posted on July 29, 2021 by Jennie
Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Milly – Part 5

Posted on July 27, 2021 by Jennie

In Part 4 the Peace Quilt became part of the permanent collection at the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia, and Milly became an important part of my classroom.  Children adored her.  She loved singing, and Milly’s favorite song was our favorite song, too – “God Bless America.”

Part 5

“Jennie, can we sing again?  Can we sing “God Bless America?”  This was what I heard from children, every day.  I sing many songs with children, all kinds of songs.  So, why was this particular song the favorite?  I don’t know.  But, what I do know is to pay attention to children and what they gravitate towards.  My lesson plans might be terrific, but I know intuitively that what children are drawn to, is far more important.  I paid attention.  And it grew.  When children were in the playground they started singing on their own for other children.  They sang all the time for Milly.  She joined in, and she loved it!

I had to do more, because the children wanted, needed, more.  Veterans Day arrived and we invited soldiers into the classroom to say Thank You, and of course to sing.

Lizzie’s favorite book was an everyday staple.

Milly spent time at school making a red, white, and blue outfit for Gloria- at the request of children.

When the holidays were approaching, I had this pit in my stomach.  I just felt like I was giving hungry children little bits of food instead of a big meal.  So, I decided we would make a God Bless America book for families as a holiday gift.  This would be our own version, based on Lizzie’s favorite book.  What a treasure this book became!


We wrote all the words and made our own illustrations.

I didn’t know it at the time, but this book would have a profound influence and effect later on.  But, I’m getting ahead of myself…

When the holidays were over and we were back to school, things really hadn’t changed.  Children built a ‘hill’ in the snow as ‘their’ stage to sing.  They were often on the soccer bench at the far end of the playground.  I could hear their voices raised in song.  Everybody could.

Jennie, the children are trying to tell you they want more.  Pay attention.  Do something!  I called Milly.

“Milly, do you think you could make another quilt with the children?”  That was like asking a child if they wanted candy.

“Yes, of course!  What do you have in mind?”

“A God Bless America quilt.”

“I was hoping you would say that.”

And so, we began another quilting adventure.  We already knew what we wanted to have on the quilt, as we had memorized the song – singing it a zillion times will do that.  We had also made our book that illustrated all those words.  But, we needed to put everything into one picture for the quilt.

Again, children made all the decisions as to what would go where.  Milly was there to watch.  They colored the big sketch, which reinforced the words to the song, and reinforced what they wanted.  It was their ‘statement’ and they were proud.

Look at Milly’s big smile!  Children couldn’t get enough of picking fabrics and watching everything come to life.  Look carefully at the quilt:

I didn’t notice it at first.  Do you see the large white center?  That’s the United States of America.  In New York, there is the child’s Statue of Liberty.  There’s “night” and the “light from above”, “mountains” and “prairies” and “ocean”, and of course “home sweet home”.  I wish you could see this in the flesh.

The newspaper wanted to do an article, and the Post Office wanted us to hang the quilt for ‘the world’ to see.

Milly was now quite well known!

“Jennie, where will the quilt go?”  People were starting to ask.  The Postmaster wanted to know.  Our school’s director wanted to know.  Milly hadn’t asked me…yet.  And then it came to me.  The quilt was museum-worthy, much like the Peace Quilt.  But, I wrestled with what museum would be best and most appropriate.  My first thought was the song, “God Bless America”, and I researched Irving Berlin and museums where much of his memorabilia is located.

An interesting fact about the song: Irving Berlin thought “The Star-Spangled Banner” was too difficult.  He was not a big fan of the song, especially as our National Anthem.  That prompted him to write “God Bless America.”

The museums, while wonderful, felt limited in the sense that our quilt was about far more than Irving Berlin.  It was more about patriotism.  Patriotism.  I had hit the nail on the head in defining the quilt and where it needed to be.

My husband immediately said, “Jennie, the most patriotic museum is in New York City.  It’s a restored aircraft carrier, the USS Intrepid.”  Why did I not know this?!  I researched the museum (perfect fit) and immediately contacted the director, the ‘top dog’.  To my surprise she got back to me right away.  Boy, was she excited!  So, we were off – again – with families and children in tow.  Milly’s family made the trip, too.  The event was far more than I expected… and it took a major turn.  Stay tuned for Part 6.

Jennie

Posted in America, art, geography, Giving thanks, Gloria, Inspiration, joy, museums, patriotism, quilting, School, Teaching young children, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , , | 73 Comments

A good education

Posted on July 25, 2021 by Jennie

I am a teacher. In today’s world we are are often bogged down with paperwork and state standards. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and loose sight of what is most important- teaching the child. Beetleypete (Pete) describes his education, which was excellent. Why? Because his teachers brought excitement into the classroom. They cared. They made students feel important and worthy.

Thank you, Pete. I feel inspired, rejuvenated, and eager to teach.

beetleypete's avatarbeetleypete

I confess that I know little of the school system today. I am aware that many teachers are unhappy, that exam results are possibly being manipulated, and Department of Education targets seem to be the driving force behind teaching. I also see that standards of spelling, literacy, numeracy, and general knowledge have fallen, and students rely heavily on the Internet for information that they might once have learned. University degrees have lost their status and potential graduates now have to face the prospect of years of debt ahead of them. Things have changed, of that there can be little doubt. There is a distinct lack of Historical knowledge, and little regard for the relevance of the subject. Geography, and geographical awareness, has reached a low, to the extent that many young people could not place themselves on a World map.

I do not have statistics to support these claims, but…

View original post 1,690 more words

Posted in Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Giving thanks, Inspiration, joy, School, teaching | Tagged , , | 41 Comments

Milly – Part 4

Posted on July 24, 2021 by Jennie

In Part 3, Milly brought in beautiful fabrics and placed them on the sketch of the Peace Quilt spread out across a big table.  Children came to her like moths to a candle, picking out just the right fabrics.  At last the quilt was completed, and it was a work of art.  We wrote a poetry book and the quilt was big news in town.  I told ‘the world’, including the director of the National Liberty Museum.

Part 4

“Jennie, thank you for telling us about the quilt.  I’m sure it is as stunning as your Peace Peace Portal” said the museum director.”  That was so nice!  She then continued.

“I want to tell you that the museum would like the Peace Quilt.  We want it as part of our permanent display.”

I was shocked.  And here, I’d just wanted them to know all that had transpired since I saw their Peace Portal.  I was thrilled.  Then it sank in- a quilt from my classroom was going to be displayed – permanently – in a national museum. I couldn’t wait to tell Milly!

We talked, laughed, and enjoyed the moment.  Milly was pleased as punch and just as taken aback as I was.

“Milly, you have done so much for us.  You made this quilt.  How can I ever thank you?”

Milly didn’t bat an eye.  “Take me to Philadelphia” she said, with gusto.

Road Trip!

Children and families were eager to go and be part of presenting their work to a national museum.  A good sized group made the trip to Philadelphia.  The director had one request. “Please bring Gloria, too.  After all, the quilt was her idea.”  Yes, Gloria made the trip with us.

My husband and I picked up Milly at the crack of dawn.  As the car went whispering along the highway in the early morning hours we chatted away.  Milly leaned forward from the back seat, putting her arms and elbows up on the back  of the front seat.  She said, “I’m the other woman”, with a low voice and body language that meant she wanted to really talk about herself.  What an icebreaker!  She told us she’d long been separated and has a dear soulmate, another man.  She told us that her daughter had died a few years ago from cancer, and how she’d spent every moment by her bedside, quilting.  Her daughter had two young girls, and Milly was pretty much raising those girls, along with their dad.  Milly talked about the quilting shop she had for years, and I learned about quilting clubs.  She reminisced about life in the 1940’s. We laughed, we cried.

It was the most delightful six-hour drive.  We became good friends.

The quilt presentation was exciting and humbling.  We were treated like kings and queens.  Milly was all smiles.  Gloria never left Grant’s side.  In the Part 3 photo, he and Gloria were checking out the quilt progress together.

The museum made a plaque to place underneath the quilt that reads:

“Peace Quilt” designed by students at the Groton Community School, Groton, Massachusetts.  Their teacher, Ms. Jennie Fitzkee, conceived this project after visiting the National Liberty Museum two years ago.  She saw many visions of peace displayed throughout the Museum, which made her wonder how her young students would interpret this concept.  With the help of a beloved classroom puppet named “Gloria”, Ms. Fitzkee inspired the youngsters to draw their ideas of “Peace.”  Quilter Milly Cunningham used their illustrations of rainbows, happy animals and even trucks to create this beautiful quilt.  The National Liberty Museum is grateful to Ms. Fitzkee and her students for this wonderful gift.

And so, we reveled in all the glory on our car ride home.  We shared stories and wrote thank you notes over the next few weeks.  We were truly humbled.  The rest of the school year Milly continued to come in to visit and play with the children.  Her bond was a strong one.  Children loved her.  They wanted to be with her and play.  I stood back and watched magic happen – every time she visited.

I sing all the time with children, often playing the autoharp.  It’s a staple in my classroom.  On one of Milly’s visits Gloria wanted to sing.  We learned that Milly loves to sing!  She joined us in a chorus of songs.  Did you know that Milly’s favorite song is “God Bless America?”  I did not.  Well, the children were thrilled, as that is one of their favorite songs, too.

The school year ended, and the following year Milly was a frequent visitor.  Something different happened that year.  A group of children loved singing “God Bless America” and often begged for the song.  “Jennie, can you play it on your autoharp so we can sing?”  I did, yet I always played and sang many other songs as well.  This was becoming big, and I respond to big when it comes from children.  That means I had to do something, do more.  I did!  And it turned into a pathway I’d never expected.  Thank goodness Milly was there… stay tuned for Part 5.

Jennie

Posted in Gloria, Imagination, Inspiration, museums, Peace, preschool, quilting, Teaching young children, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , , | 59 Comments