Se Friday, June 6, 2014 5A BRIAN WOLFER/Special to the Standard-Examiner ABOVE: Venture Academy teacher Jenny Rabe teaches her Marriott-Slaterville students about the Civil War. Part of the lesson is making quilts to donate to wounded American soldiers throughout the world, shown here late last month. RIGHT: Students are also writing letters to accompany the quilts to Washington. Kids make patriotic quilts for hurt soldiers By RACHEL J. TROTTER Standard-Examiner correspondent MARRIOTT-SLATERVILLE — Students at Venture Academy proudly pulled out theTap quilts they have been sewing for the past few months and showed the thousands of hand-sewn stitches on red, white and blue fabric. The quilts have a story, one the students eagerly share. The third- through sixth- graders have been learning about the Colonial period, Civil War and Industrial period for the past few months. Eleven-year-old Simon Dyer explained that, during Civil War times, when soldiers were injured, they were given handmade quilts and it made them heal more quickly. The students thought soldiers today might find that same success and decided to make some quilts of their own. "We thought if they knew someone cared for them, it would really help," Simon said. Teacher Jenny Rabe did the project with students three years ago and found a nonprofit group, Miracle Quilts, which donates quilts to wounded American soldiers throughout the world, Each June, a large exhibition is held in Washington, displaying the quilts, and then the quilts are taken to a veterans hospital in Michigan then dispersed to other places as needed. Rabe said her students three years ago made a large quilt, and it went to a recovering soldier in Germany. This year, the students wanted to make smaller quilts so they could make more and help more people. The students sewed 12 quilts, and a couple of moms helped piece them together — although some of the students did that as well. "I did this one by myself," said 9-year-old Ellie Shaner. She proudly held up the quilt with varying patriotic squares. "I really liked picking out the fabrics and tying it." Ten-year-old Colin Ahlstrom says he also enjoyed sewing the squares together. Rabe said the class had a routine that, when she started reading to the class, the students got the quilts out and sewed. She enjoys doing the project with the students because it covers several areas of learning. Not only did they apply the knowledge they gained about the Civil War, but they also learned how important cotton was at that time and its role in the war. Plus, they are learning the skill of sewing, she said. "They really see how cotton is (woven) through history." Rabe will continue to do the project with her social studies students every three years as they rotate through the Civil War and Industrial Revolution section, so all students can experience the project while at the school. The Miracle Quilts project has grown, too, since Rabe first learned about it. Three years ago, the founder gathered 150 quilts. This year, there are 300. The quilts are now complete and waiting to be sent to Washington. "I just know it's encouragement for them to get better," 11-year-old Wade Shaw said of the quilts. For more information on Miracle Quilts, visit www.thedesertangel.org.