Carol Adams Mansfield, TX

Quilt Full Description: This quilt pays tribute to all of the men and women of the US Navy who perform the duties and responsibilities of a Navy Air Traffic Controller. Our Dad proudly served in this capacity at the Naval Air Station in Grand Prairie, Texas, and on the US Constellation aircraft carrier.

Quilt Stories: A speaker at a recent quilt guild general meeting presented a history of quilts featuring navy aircraft. She informed us of your quilt challenge, and being the daughter of a US Navy Air Traffic Controller, I decided to design and enter a quilt. I have three sisters and we all got together to plan our quilts. We had a great time reminiscing about our Dad and talking about a our life as Navy "brats".

Cindy Bengford Fort Collins, CO

Quilt Full Description: Variation on traditional log cabin block where the fabrics represent different aspects of the navy/coast guard/marines.

Quilt source: Center is the ocean, and then the land (tan), defending day(gold) and night (blue/black) by water (center, aqua),sky (blue, stars) and reaching the stars of space (space fabric w/blue and white stars, black).

Quilt Stories: When I found out about the challenge, I was attending a quilt show and found the fabric among fat quarters of the gold angels and stars on the navy blue background, that was when I knew I had to make a quilt.

Darlene Bengford of Ft. Collins, CO

Other Participants: Our son, Dusty Bengford, air brushed the flag, sea and vapor trails.

Quilt Full Description: The oval contains our US flag as the focal point with naval planes flying in front protecting our nation. The air carrier ship lies in wait to welcome the returning planes and their symbolic anchor is at the center top. Meanwhile the Blue Angels are demonstrating their precision and beauty in all four corners.

Quilt Stories: Making this quilt for the Navy's 100th year celebration was truly an honor.

Cindy Ann Briggs of Hadley, PA

Quilt source: I started out with the 'Blissful Ignorance' quote by George Will as my inspiration and voice. The eagle is to 1. represent our national emblem and 2. represent ALL aircraft that flies to accomplish each mission. The carrier is a silhouette of the USS Stennis.

Quilt Stories: My husband retired after a 24 year naval career. He rose up the ranks starting as an enlisted sailor, received an appointment to the US Naval Academy, from which he graduated in 1980, then began his aviation career. He flew the FA-18. The unique aspect of his naval career was highlighted by 2 tours stationed in France, where our 2 youngest children, Dan and Kate, were born. He participated in the Pilot Exchange Program, in Toulon, France from 1986-1988 and attended the L'Ecole de Geurre (war college), in Paris from 1991-1992. All 4 of our children have or are presently serving in different branches of the armed forces. My husband now teaches physics and mathematics at our local high school and is a great influence to the students. This quilt is in honor of him, Cdr. Jeffrey A. Briggs (retired) whose love of flying was only surpassed by his love of family and also ET2 Daniel S. Briggs, our youngest son who is stationed on the USS Stennis at present and excels at his job to keep the carrier moving forward. This is also to honor all the great friends and comrades that my husband and I made during his time serving the United States of America in the greatest navy ever. Also one can not forget the ones who sacrificed it all with their lives while serving. My thoughts as I was developing a concept for this challenge was the far reaching aspects of the naval aviator, not only in fulfilling their missions but in the personal influences they make wherever they are sent. They are our country's living embassadors of what is good and decent about our great nation. I also included the controversial 'In God We Trust' quote from our money because I believe that we need to stand up and preserve what our service men and women are fighting for everyday.....Freedom. Freedom that we should never take for granted. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to also serve my country with the gifts and talents that God has granted to me to be a voice that says, "Thank you!" to our service personnel that comprise all of Naval Aviaton.

Suzette Smith Brinker of Gulf Breeze, FL

Quilt Full Description: This quilt is a multi media gathering of prarie points, hand beaded planes and flumes, original designs and quilting patterns all together in traditional red white and blue (and a flash of gold!) showing the Blue Angels as they fly over the beach during the Pensacola Air show.

Quilt Stories: My husband is a retired Navy Flight Surgeon. After multiple duty stations and many Blue Angel shows, I hold Naval Aviation dear to my heart.

Kay Campbell Woodbine, MD

Quilt Full Description: Photo printing on fabric enhanced with oil paints appliqued to a machine quilted and embellished black textured field. Silver background is "quilted" with 120 rivets. Piped border repeats blue interior border.

Quilt Stories: The replicated photograph was taken by Apollo 8 astronauts on Christmas Eve, 1968. Captain Jim Lovell, USN, was the Command Module Pilot for Apollo 8. The astronauts read the creation story from Genesis. Elements of my quilt represent a personal history of Naval Aviation. The first naval aviators flew planes with fabric covering wings and fuselage, like our quilts. My father, A. R. Campbell, USN, repaired Corsair training planes, especially their electrical systems, while stationed in Pensacola during World War II. The rivets in my quilt represent those Corsairs. Command Module Pilot Captain Jim Lovell, USN, was part of the Apollo 8 mission that gave the world a most wondrous Christmas gift in 1968.

Carol Christensen Tucson, AZ

Quilt Full Description: 5 planes appliqued to center square, with letters USNAVY beneath, red/white/blue striped border, corner white stars; Letters and corner stars were paper pieced

Cynthia Harkwell Clark Las Cruces, NM

Quilt Stories: This quilt is a memorial to my cousin and Navy pilot who was MIA in Viet Nam- I was a very young child when he was lost to our family but the quilt challenge gave me the opportunity to talk with family about Michael-it has been a blessing. The photos in the "windows" on the quilt are of Michael in his plane overlaid on the coordinates where his plane went down, a photo with his boys overlaid on the Navy hymn, an etching from the Memorial Wall and a poem from Michael's memorial Mass. It is has been a privilege to honor my cousin and all who serve, including my amazing son, MIDN 2/C Benjamin E. Clark, US Naval Academy 2012.

Bet Deal Courey Odessa, FL

Other Participants: Friends Anna and Marilyn helped with the the photo transfer.

Quilt source: Thorny trail paper pieced blocks from the book Quick and Easy Quilting by Jodie Davis and Linda Hampton Schiffer. Airplane blocks adaptaed from a block in the book 501 Quilt Blocks by Better Homes and Gardens. Reproduction granted photo for media use by Blue Angel P.A.O. 2001.

Quilt Stories: I became aware of the challenge on a car trip back from DC as I was looking at the September issue 2010 of AQS Americn Quilter Magazine and saw information about the challenge. I thought about my special photo of the Blue Angels flying over the Twin Towers and felt this would be a unique way to honor the Blue Angels and Naval Aviation with this memorable photo.

Harriet Lee Crabtree Greeley, CO

Quilt Full Description: Border of blue and gold stars. Sky area has flag - P3 - F9F aircraft. Ocean area has the aircraft carrier, F8 and F3H aircraft. Four corners gold with USN.

Quilt source: Husbands Naval Career

Mary Elizabeth Craig Norfolk, VA

Quilt Full Description: Airborne is based on an awesome photograph from the Navy's website. FLY NAVY! Techniques used in making this quilt include applique, paper piecing and machine quilting.

Quilt source: Thanks to all the quilters- instructors, students and friends - who have inspired me. And thanks to my husband, Scott for all his love and support.

Quilt Stories: As an avid quilter and proud wife of a Naval Aviator, I was excited to participate in the Naval Aviation Centennial Quilt Challenge.