Denniele Bohannon - Where Poppies Grow: Quilts and Projects Honoring Those Who Served in World War I

Editor: Edie McGinnis Designer: Heather Shaw Photography: Aaron T. Leimkuehler Illustration: Eric Sears Technical Editor: Jane Miller Photo Editor: Jo Ann Groves Published by: Kansas City Star Books 1729 Grand Blvd. Kansas City, Missouri, USA 64108 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThank you to Doug Weaver, Edie McGinnis, Jo Ann Groves, Eric Sears, Aaron Leimkuehler, Jane Miller and Heather Shaw, the team at The Kansas City Star.Thank you, Deb Rowden for your encouragement. Ruth Blades, Robert Blades, Mary Blades Toney, George Blades, Helen Blades Tilton, Richard Townsend OKell, Victoria OKell Liston and Allison Crowe, all descendants of Pearl Townsend OKell Blades, thank you for sharing your memories, photos and the cemetery tours.A special thanks to Moda fabrics at Modafabrics.com for supplying the fabric for our quilt, Remembering Almo. About the Authors DENNIELE BOHANNONDenniele has been teaching quilting in the adult education program for the Harrisonville School District since 2007. She is a member of AQS, NQA and MOKA. Denniele and her husband, Meryl, reside in Harrisonville, Missouri.

They have five grown children and three grandchildren.From Denniele Bohannon:Thank you to Kandi Dillon, the pattern tester for Remembering Almo, Dianne Barnden, for piecing A Mothers Remembrance and Janice Britz for working on this project. Ginger Friesz, Veronica Johnson, Donna Crow and Shari Gilliam, the sewing girls who help me. To my husband, kids and grandkids, thank you for being you and loving me fabric, threads and all!JANICE BRITZJanice made her first two quilts in 1976, and then took a break for a few years. After raising her family and working as a Shelter Insurance agent, she resumed quilting in 2007. She is now retired and enjoying her family. Her other passion is beekeeping and operating Bee Merry Farms, selling honey and beeswax.

Janice and her husband, Tom, have three children and six grandchildren. Janice is one of four authors who contributed to Stories in Stitches published by Kansas City Star Quilts.From Janice Britz:Denniele, it was a privilege to read Almos letters and work with you to complete this book. To my family, thank you for your love and patience love you more! Introduction T he year 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I. With the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, as a catalyst, The Great War was set in motion. Never before had so many nations been prepared to embark upon battles that would encompass so much territory and end with the loss of so many lives. European leaders chose up sides quickly after the assassination.

The Allies Russia, Great Britain and France faced the central powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey. The war spread beyond Europe as the warring factions called upon their colonies and other allies for help. In 1917, America joined the fray. One of the doughboys who was sent over there was Almo Ebenezer OKell, a congenial, well-liked young man who hailed from Quincy, Illinois. He served as a medic with Field Hospital No. Pershing. Pershing.

OKell had an ex-wife and an 8-year-old son, Townsend, living in Hamilton, Missouri. He often wrote to Townsend, as well as his family and friends. His letters and photos have been preserved by his family and are a remarkable first-hand account of his life as a soldier. His great-granddaughter, Denniele OKell Bohannon of Louanna Mary Quilt Design, Harrisonville, Missouri, and Janice Britz of Bee Merry Farms, Peculiar, Missouri, were inspired by OKells WWI experiences and designed the 2014 Kansas City Star Block-of-the-Month quilt, Remembering Almo, in honor of the 100th anniversary of The Great War. Remembering Almo, designed by Denniele Bohannon and Janice Britz, pieced by Denniele Bohannon and quilted by Angela Walters of Quilting is My Therapy. Remembering Almo Quilt Size: 72 x 83Fabric Requirements yard assorted reds yard assorted blues yard brown* 7 x 9 gold yard green 3 yards of background Borders 2 yards red 2 yards of background 10 x 22 blue 20 fusible web Other Supplies 1 yard fusible web black embroidery thread (optional) *From the brown fabric, using your favorite method, make 372 of finished bias tape. Set aside. Photo by Sgt. A. A.

Marcioni ([1]) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons WWI Tribute Quilt, designed by Denniele Bohannon and Janice Britz, pieced by Janice Britz and quilted by Angela Walters of Quilting is My Therapy. WWI Tribute Quilt Quilt Size: 64 x 82 The WWI Tribute quilt uses the same 12 block patterns as Remembering Almo. The blocks are set together differently, and this quilt gives you another option for borders. You will find the finishing instructions. Fabric Requirements 1 yard background fabric for pieced blocks yard of assorted red fabrics for pieced blocks yard of assorted blue fabrics for pieced blocks Alternate Blocks, Borders, Sashing and Binding 4 yards of background fabric 1 yards of red fabric 1 yards of blue fabric Photo: Zwischen Vesle und Aisne by Unknown. Wikimedia Commons Block 1 Fathers Choice A lmo married Pearl Townsend in 1907, and their son, Townsend, was born in 1909, in Quincy, Illinois. Pearl and Townsend often went to Hamilton, Missouri, to visit her mother, so Almo started writing to his son shortly after his birth.

Dear Son, This is your first card, with love from your papa. Almo was not often pleased with her absence, as one of his letters attests: Now Pearl I think you had better hurry up and come home as I cant stand it any longer. I tell you it is fierce to keep away that long. Kiss the dear baby for me. Before he sailed for France, Almo was at Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia, the war induction and processing center.

In November 1917, he wrote to 8-year-old Townsend: Papa wants you to be a good boy and mind your mama. She will tell you all about me some day. Now baby, Papa thinks of you all the time and when this war is over, over there, [I] will come and see you. Almo understood that many men would sacrifice their lives, But it is very doubtful if I will come back to this country again, only one way. But Baby, remember your father lost his life in the fight for freedom for you because it would mean [America would] come under the rule of Germany. Of course it cant last long but [there] will be lots of us that wont come back.