I did finish a project today. It's a little different from the ones you've seen here before. The embroidery stitches are a little wonky as mine tend to be, there is no glitter nor over the top embellishments. No buttons anywhere to be seen. But there is a story if you'd care to hear it.
Joanna Yorke Dyer was born in 1983 in Berlin where her British Army parents were stationed. Jo, as she was called, was an English lass from Somerset, near the magical city of Glastonbury. After graduating from Oxford University with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics she joined the army herself. She was a friend to Prince William by virtue of passing out of the same company as he at Sandhurst. Jo was stationed in Iraq where she amazed other soldiers with the amount of mail she received from friends and family. She was brave and good-natured and very well liked.
She had an infectious smile they say and could light up any room. On April 5 of this year Jo was in a military vehicle in Basra with three others when a blast exploded the car killing all four. That news story is here. How Joanna got to be my story went like this. I visited Raesha's blog the other day and read about something that she was doing. I followed her links to the Mother's Day Project , a project that is about making the world aware of the horrible heart wrenching affects of war. The project sends out one name of a female soldier who has died in Iraq to whomever asks, one name to be embroidered and sent back. All the names will be included on a tote bag which will be sent to each embroiderer in turn to carry for a couple of weeks and then sent on to another.
Before I could begin embroidering her name I felt like there should be some rapport established. I put the muslin with Joanna's name stamped on it in my lap and covered it with my hand. I thought about the logistics of a 24 year old person being in a land far away risking their life for whatever ideal they might harbor. I wondered at a world that allows hostility to escalate to a level that young lives are taken. I don't want to share my politics with you. They are, in these matters, the politics of a mother who can't imagine sending our beautiful and wondrous youth into these dangerous situations whatever the reason. And I truly thank those young people of the world who risk their lives for motives of their own.
I embroidered over the black letters on the muslin. At first I almost pulled out the stitches. The letters were so little and I wasn't managing the small curves with much delicacy. But then I laughed and told Joanna that perhaps her name wouldn't be the neatest one on the tote bag but on the bag it would be. And for that her story would be known far from that beautiful Somerset countryside from whence she came.
Vallen, I have tears in my eyes as I write this comment. Joanna Yorke Dyer...I will write her name in my journal tonight and give thanks for her service and thought to her much-too-short life. Thank you for sending her name out into my little world.
Posted by: Mrs. G. | October 29, 2007 at 09:19 PM
I, too, will write her name in my journal so that she isn't forgotten. Her sacrifice was the ultimate one and it should not be taken lightly by any of us. I don't agree with this war but I support the troops who are there doing their best.
Posted by: Janet | October 29, 2007 at 09:59 PM
Luckily I come across your jourrnal thru Darla's blog. Very interesting one, and your works awesome! Thank you for letting me visit, and would like to visit this corner again sooon. Have a fruitful day.
Posted by: Nihal | October 30, 2007 at 01:16 AM
Oh my!
What a beautiful way to honor these women.
Darla
Posted by: Darla | October 30, 2007 at 05:33 AM
Thank you for the beautiful story, it is through telling it that we all live on....
Posted by: Hjordi | October 30, 2007 at 06:12 AM
This project really kills me, and not in a good way. :-( I hope my name arrives soon.
Posted by: Sarah | October 30, 2007 at 06:33 AM
Wow, this is such an amazing project. With tears in my eyes, I'm afraid I'm at a loss for words. Joanna will be remembered.
Posted by: Roxanne | October 30, 2007 at 09:31 AM
I wish Joanna could have met you - she'd have loved your cattiness, your wit, and your wonky stitches. And I'm sure Joanna will watch with pride from the Somerset countryside as her name gets toted around the globe...
Posted by: Mary Ann | October 30, 2007 at 04:05 PM
You truly live up to your royal moniker! What a lovely thing to do! You are a fabulous gal..and NEVER let anyone tell you different!!!
Posted by: Pam Aries | October 30, 2007 at 05:27 PM
Vallen, my heart breaks for Jo's family. And you, with your wonky stitches and all, honor her life and her memory with an integrity and a respect that is very you specific. Bravo, cheers and applause, applause, applause. Thank you for telling us about Jo's service to her country and ours.
Posted by: Jenny | October 30, 2007 at 08:10 PM
Vallen, my heart breaks for Jo's family. And you, with your wonky stitches and all, honor her life and her memory with an integrity and a respect that is very you specific. Bravo, cheers and applause, applause, applause. Thank you for telling us about Jo's service to her country and ours.
Posted by: Jenny | October 30, 2007 at 08:11 PM
Lovely...thank you Vallen.
Posted by: Randi | October 31, 2007 at 10:28 AM
Lovely, Vallen.
Posted by: Christy | October 31, 2007 at 11:51 PM
Sniffle. How extraordinary and sad and enlightening and horrible and so much more. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Rosa | November 01, 2007 at 06:06 PM