Quilt museum to focus on military recognition this summer

The International Quilt Study Center and Museum at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is offering three special programs this summer to recognize the contributions of military personnel and their families.

The Lincoln Quilters Guild has chosen to make Quilts of Valor one of its designated group projects, often demonstrating the construction of the quilts at the museum. The Quilts of Valor Foundation is a nonprofit organization formed to "cover our wounded soldiers, sailors and marines one quilt at a time." A dozen examples of the quilts are on display at the museum through June 24.

The Lost Heroes Art Quilt will be on display June 29 through July 3. The quilt, measuring 17 feet by 8 feet, salutes fallen soldiers of the Iraq and Afghanistan combat theaters. This display is traveling across the United States and is sponsored in Lincoln by Nebraska Survivor Outreach Services, part of the U.S. Army. At 11 a.m. June 29, Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy will keynote a welcome ceremony. Many members of Gold Star families, those who have lost a family member in service, will attend the ceremony. Admission to the museum is free from 10 a.m. to noon.

The quilt museum also joins the Blue Star Museums partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and more than 1,300 museums across America to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

For additional information visit www.QuiltStudy.org or call (402) 472-6549.

WRITER: Maureen Ose