Karen Stark

Couple teams up to support Troops in harm's way.

18 years ago, a woman who hadn’t sewn for more than 40 years began a nationwide sewing project. In the ’60s, as a farm girl in Oklahoma, I made an apron in 4-H and a skirt in Home Ec. That was the extent of my sewing skills until years later when I learned that America had deployed Troops who were dying from heatstroke in Iraq where temperatures often rose to 130°-140°+. In June 2004, I read an article that told of a Soldier who, after standing guard duty, collapsed and died from severe heatstroke. She left behind a 2-year-old daughter. That heartbreaking story compelled me to try to find a way to help. Research on the internet pointed me toward a possible solution. I found directions for a simple pattern for making life-saving cooling ties that could reduce body core temperatures by 7° or more. The article said they were helpful for golfers and gardeners, so why not for our Military?