05/25/2026
In 2004, Sgt. Nicole Smith, Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 121st Signal Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, began a project in Tikrit, Iraq: a commemorative queen-sized quilt meant to reflect the human side of service during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The quilt includes over 100 unit patches, many of which are signed by senior leaders. Its backing is a sheet issued to Sgt. Smith during her earlier service at Fort Hood, Texas, also signed by deployed soldiers.
Built over three months with materials sent from home and support from fellow soldiers, the quilt became something more than a personal project. Sgt. Smith later chose to auction it and donate the proceeds to support military families. It was purchased by citizens of Sonora, Texas, who shared that intent and contributed the funds to the First Division Foundation.
The quilt now resides in the permanent collection of the First Division Museum at Cantigny—a simple object, made in service, carrying the marks of many hands.
In honor of America’s 250th, the First Division Museum is collecting 250 artifacts and archival materials that tell the story of the Big Red One. We are especially seeking well-documented items from the late Cold War, the Gulf War, the Balkans, and the Global War on Terror. To learn more or contribute, click here https://bit.ly/4ucNGPo
