Hey, everyone!

As you know, our Missions of Honor efforts are still going strong here at Primitive Gatherings, and with the opening of the Patriotic Quilt & Project Show getting closer every day, the excitement continues to grow! A few weeks ago, we welcomed Diane McDonald, the Executive Director of Missions of Honor, as our guest during my LIVE show. We talked about the veterans who take part in these missions, the impact the experience has on them, and what it takes to make each trip possible. Diane shared some wonderful stories that gave us an even deeper appreciation for the work this organization does and reminded us why we’re so committed to sending veterans on these meaningful journeys!

During our conversation, one of the things that really stayed with me was hearing how these trips can affect veterans long after they return home. Diane shared that many participants come back sleeping better, feeling more at ease, and finally able to talk with their families about experiences they may have kept to themselves for years. These missions are about so much more than visiting memorials. They’re an opportunity to recognize these men and women, honor their service, and give them a chance to connect with others who understand what they’ve been through!

When Diane and her husband started this organization in 2009, they set out to honor the veterans who had served our country. Since then, Old Glory Honor Flight has completed 84 missions and served more than 8,000 veterans! What began with World War II veterans has grown to include veterans from more recent conflicts, along with special missions that bring veterans back to places such as Vietnam and Pearl Harbor. The reach of this organization continues to grow, and the need for support grows right along with it.

The stories Diane shared are a big part of why I want to bring more attention to Missions of Honor and the work they do. That’s also why I’m so excited about our upcoming Patriotic Quilt and Fiber Arts Show, which is opening November 19th, 2026 at The Gathering. The show will run through the end of the year. Admission is a $5 donation per person to attend, with the proceeds going directly to Missions of Honor . It’s yet another way our quilting community can come together to honor those who have served!

With all the preparations underway for the quilt show, we had a special opportunity to share a little of what we’re doing here at Primitive Gatherings just this afternoon. WBAY-TV Action 2 News stopped by to talk with me about the upcoming show and our connection to Missions of Honor. Not only was it an excellent opportunity for me to spread the word about the quilt show to our surrounding communities, but it also gave me a chance to share more about the important work Missions of Honor does for our veterans and why we’re so eager to support them.

The first airing of the segment was at 4:00 p.m. today, which was unfortunately before I had a chance to get back to my desk and blog about it. The good news is that I just discovered that you can catch the replay on the WBAY-TV Action 2 News website — just click the button below to watch!

Tomorrow is going to be a long day of hanging quilts for the show, so it’s time for me to go home and rest up. On the bright side, I’m pretty much done judging all the entries and have most of my winners picked out… and now that I said that, I’m probably going to wake up tomorrow and change my mind a bazillion times — you never know! On that note, have a great night and I will see you all LIVE on my YouTube channel this Thursday at 1:00 p.m. CST. Join me by clicking the STITCH button below! ~Lisa