Mom weaves together tapestry of support

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) - Embroidery is Carol Armstrong's second passion. Her family always comes first. And it was her son Nick, a soldier in the 10th Mountain Division, who gave her an idea to bring the two together.

When Nick deployed last year, Carol sent him a small pillow to make nights away from home, away from a bed, a bit easier.

"It's small enough to fold up in your hand and shove in a pocket and it's meant to take in the field," said Carol, holding one of the pillows.

Then she made three for his truck buddies, a few more for his platoon, and suddenly Operation Pocket Field Pillows was born.

"It's U.S. made by U.S. hands," said Carol, "by American hands to remind these kids that people do care."

In all, Carol and some local volunteers have made 7,000 pillows to send overseas. Only one never made it to the troops.

"I had made about 35 for Nick and his platoon and I kept one of the original ones and it sits on my bed."

For every box of pillows that goes out, a few more thank you letters come in, like the one from First Lieutenant Micah Chapman.

"Every soldier in my platoon has them on a cot," reads Armstrong. "Overall things are going well. Life gets better every day."

Carol thought about retiring her pillow production until she went to welcome home her son and realized not every family was there with her.

"I probably would've stopped Operation PFP when he came home this past January, were it not for thinking about the six kids who didn't come home," Carol said, holding back tears.

Now Carol is committed to her operation until all the troops are home.

With a bed.

And a pillow.

For more information on sewing pillows visit the following locations:

Operation Pocket Field Pillows

Bella Fabrics in Carrollton holds a sewing session to put together more pillows the second Wednesday of every month.

13478 Carrollton Blvd.
Carrollton, Va. 23314

The Addicted Quilter in Portsmouth also has sewing sessions.

3232 Academy Ave.
Portsmouth, Va. 23703