By Debbie Irmen, Tribune staff writer

With so many fathers from the HHC 2-135th Infantry based in Mankato serving on a peace-keeping mission in Kosovo, their children needed something special this year.

Tracy Erickson found the answer while doodling one night &045; embroidered pillows.

&uot;I think God gave me the idea,&uot; said the Emmons resident, whose husband, Marc, was among the soldiers deployed in October. &uot;I just wanted to do something special for the kids this year.&uot;

The pillows are &uot;perfect for babies

all the way up to kids age 18.&uot;

Each pillow is constructed of black and camouflage polar fleece and embroidered with the father’s name, where he is stationed and the year.

Erickson typically buys the children of the Infantry a $3 to $5 gift, &uot;just something for Santa to give,&uot; during the group’s Christmas party. Members of the 2-135th live as far away as Alexandria and Wisconsin and train at Mankato.

&uot;It’s exciting how everything has come together,&uot; she said. &uot;But then it was a divine idea.&uot;

Erickson cuts two 18-inch squares each of black polar fleece and camouflage fleece, and Gladys Reinertson, co-owner of Reinertson’s Embroidery sews the message on the black side. Strips are cut into each of the fabrics, wrapped around a pillow form and the strips are tied together. Other than the embroidery &045; which takes about 20 minutes, said Reinertson &045; each pillow is a no-sew project.

Though Erickson provided the inspiration, she has had a lot of help as well to make the project a reality. Numerous residents have contributed funds for the $12 pillows, which has helped her buy the fabric and pillow forms, and Gladys has willingly donated her time and machines to do the embroidered message.

In addition, the Nunda 4-H group will help put the pillows together as a community service project.

The pillows will be mailed to each child in a family whose father is serving in Kosovo, Erickson said.

&uot;Kids mail things to their dads,&uot; she said. &uot;Now they will get something special in the mail.&uot;

The pillows are perfect for any age, she said, adding her 15-year-old daughter, Ashley, loves the idea. In fact, she has been an enthusiastic partner with the project.

&uot;She helped me snip strings (left after the embroidery is completed) while we watched a Christmas show on TV Sunday night.&uot;

Her two younger children, Amber, 11, and Matt, 7, also love the pillow project.the project a reality.

Numerous residents have contributed funds for the $12 pillows, which has helped her buy the fabric and pillow forms, and Gladys has willingly donated her time and machines to do the embroidered message.

In addition, the Nunda 4-H group will help put the pillows together as a community service project.

The pillows will be mailed to each child in a family whose father is serving in Kosovo, Erickson said.

&uot;Kids mail things to their dads,&uot; she said. &uot;Now they will get something special in the mail.&uot;

The pillows are perfect for any age, she said, adding her 15-year-old daughter, Ashley, loves the idea. In fact, she has been an enthusiastic partner with the project.

&uot;She helped me snip strings (left after the embroidery is completed) while we watched a Christmas show on TV Sunday night.&uot;

Her two younger children, Amber, 11, and Matt, 7, also love the pillow project.

Contributers help make pillow gifts a reality

At a cost of $6.50 per pillow for supplies, and an additional $6 for mailing, Tracy Erickson needed some financial help to send the 68 children of the

HHC 2-135th Infantry the pillows. Their fathers were deployed to Kosovo in October.

Numerous donators have stepped to the plate, including the Emmons American Legion, Rink Systems, Freeborn American Legion Auxiliary, VFW of Albert Lea, Wal-Mart, Waste Management, Sorenson Brothers, Foto Factory, Marlene Overgaard and a man identified only as &uot;Santa.&uot;

In addition to financial contributions, others have put in time to construct the pillows, and include her children, Ashley, Amber and Matt, Gladys Reinertson of Reinertson’s Embroidery who has embroidered the message on each of the 68 pillows, the Nunda 4-H Club, as well as others.

&uot;It’s exciting how everything has come together,&uot; said Erickson. &uot;And everybody has been so willing to contribute. I can’t thank them enough.&uot;

(Contact Debbie Irmen at news@albertleatribune.com or 379-3433.)