Do you embroider? Or applique? Perhaps the 8" squares interspersed with figures of the statue of liberty, or mothers with children, any biblical figures which would be appropriate, children with pets, historical figures (mom on the doorstep with a shotgun) etc. Use your imagination and you will be amazed at what you come up with. Just be sure that your base material is approximately the same weight as the 8" squares. Good luck with your project. It's a great idea!

I think making a quilt for her, using her old uniforms, is a wonderful and loving idea. Any design and fabric will probably be ok and mean a lot to her. How about using a star theme, with some of the centers in mil fab, with solid points and others with solid centers and the mil fab as points? Stars are often used in the Quilts of Valor quilts and are a traditional quilt pattern. You can soften it up by using a floral inner border and backing in matching colors.

Kate