Sweetheart Pillows
Part III
An Illustrated Discussion of "Mother" Pillows
by Patricia Cummings
Contributors as noted
Below is a wonderful hand-painted (?), silk pillow top from WWI, given to Nick Newman by his mother. The traditional eagle motif includes a banner that says, "E Pluribus Unum," which means "Out of Many, One," in Latin. As usual, the Eagle with a Union shield has arrows in one talon and olive branches in the other, symbols of war and peace. Photo courtesy of Nick Newman
Image of Mother on Army Pillow
Silver, Gold, and Blue are the colors of the following "Mother" pillow sham that measures 17" x 17". Permission was granted to print this textile that had previously been offered in an online auction. Notice how short the poem is on this one.
photo courtesy of "captcsnake"
Mother
All that I am or hope
to be, I owe to my
angel mother.
This is a signed piece, name indiscernible.
Longer Messages, As Time Progressed
A WWII pillow top (not shown) is marked "USN" and has a banner: "Our Navy, America's Guardian," along with a "Mother" message that reappears in many other pillow covers:
Mother
M is for the million things she gave me
O means only that she's growing old
T is for the tears she shed to save me
H is for her heart of purest gold
E is for her eyes with love light shining
R means right and right she'll always be
Put them all together
they spell Mother
A word that means
the world to me
Sentimental Mother Pillow - No Military Association
The next "Mother" pillow that you will see, has no association with any particular branch of the military. The poem is particularly lovely, as is the scene that features a pair of bluebirds, Roses and vines, and a cottage set back in the distance. The item actually was finished with a gold fringe.
This photo is just a close-up, so that you can read the message on the pillow top. photo courtesy of Debbie Skaggs.
A Camp Livingston, Louisiana WWII "Mother" pillow that features the same verse we saw in Part I of this article that begins: "There's a dear little house inviting..."
photo by James Cummings
WWII U.S. Navy pillow top, with a "Mother poem." The item is owned by an eighty-three year old woman whose brother, who was in the U.S. Navy at the time, sent the pillow home to his mother. photo and information from Debbie Skaggs.
Mother
With spirit calm as
the summer sea
Moving in sweet serenity
I am sure there is no other
In all the world
like you
My Mother.
Sweetheart Jewelry, Scarves and Other Items Sent Home by GIs
When my brother, Jack, was in basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, he sent me a heart-shaped, bejeweled necklace. Across the front of it is a banner with black lettering on a white background. It says simply, "Sister." I still have this piece of jewelry, and treasure the memory of his gift of caring.
Marie Brown wrote an article for "Unravel the Gavel" newspaper entitled "Oh Sweetheart of Mine." In it, she discusses collectible sweetheart jewelry. To read the article online, please visit: http://www.thegavel.net/1299mil.html
"Mother" Pillow from Lackland Air Force Base
The pillow image above is shared by Nick Newman. He dates this (actual) pillow, not a pillow sham, to circa 1960 because of the types of planes, like the B-52 and the F111, that appear on its surface. Due to sentimentality concerning my brother being stationed at Lackland AFB, I actually purchased this pillow.
Mother
To one who bears
the sweetest name
And adds a luster
to the same
who charms when sad
The greatest friend
I ever had
Long life to her
for there's no other
Could take the place
of my dear mother.
Many thanks to all who have contributed to these three files about Sweetheart/Mother/Sister/Wife/Parents military memorabilia.
This is section III of X.
Additional Parts of this Article
©Copyright 2007. Patricia Cummings, Quilter's Muse Publications, Concord, New Hampshire. All Rights Reserved. pat@quiltersmuse.com