Many quilts have entered William Beaumont Army Medical Center, some for newborns others for veterans.
On May 31, a special quilt was presented to WBAMC reflecting appreciation from over a century of ties to the hospital. The quilt, made by past and present employees and patients, was presented at a ceremony during which the history behind the quilt was shared.
"It's a show of a deep appreciation for what the service members give up for our freedom," said Mary Lou McGee, a native of El Paso. "I have a lot of affection for WBAMC."
McGee started working at WBAMC in 1969 as a neonatal intensive care nurse and retired from the hospital 28 years later.
The idea was initiated a year ago when McGee and long-time friend, Margaret Steinbach, drove past the construction of the new William Beaumont Army Medical Center located on East Bliss, Fort Bliss.
"We paused to reminisce about the early years of our careers, when we worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit," said Steinbach, a former captain in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps who was stationed at WBAMC in 1971. "We decided that we would create a patriotic quilt and give it to the hospital. It would be our way of saying, 'Thank you'."
Along with Steinbach, who currently resides in Plantation, Florida, and McGee, Linda Palomarez, an internal medicine training program coordinator at WBAMC, and Stephanie Snodgrass, a native of El Paso and professional long arm quilter, assisted in making the idea a reality.
Palomarez, also a native of El Paso, friended McGee at WBAMC in 1969 and in 1973 McGee was Palomarez's nurse when she gave birth to her daughter. Snodgrass, a native of El Paso, started volunteering in the early 80s at WBAMC's occupational therapy clinic and soon thereafter worked as a respiratory therapist. As a respiratory therapist, Snodgrass would often work in WBAMC with newborns to help improve breathing and provide oxygen support.
The quilt is framed inside a large shadowbox display case and showcases all the branches of the armed services. Along its borders are the WBAMC crest, medical caduceus, and large gold stars to honor the families of fallen service members. The center displays various patriotic themes with WBAMC's motto "First to Care," at the top.
"It's really an honor and a privilege to accept this gift," said Col. John A. Smyrski III, commander, WBAMC. "This is a tangible example of a feeling that we create here in the WBAMC family."
The quilt is based off the design "Made in America" by Claudia Dinell and was started in February by the group which cumulated countless hours of communicating, designing and quilting over a distance of 2,000 miles.
"All of us, by threads, we're connected," said Palomarez. "We're very honored to be able to give something back."
According to Smyrski, the quilt will be displayed in the hospital's main entrance on the 3rd floor and will move to the new WBAMC once the new hospital is completed.
Appropriately, the presentation took place the day after Memorial Day and the quilt will offer Soldiers, staff, patients and visitors an opportunity to take a moment to think about and thank service members who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country and way of life, said Smyrski.
"It's an acknowledgement of what we do for the community and what the community does for us," said Smyrski.
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