City Knitter Leads Helmet-Liner Drive For Afghanistan-Bound Local Soldiers

1-15-10

Oneonta’s Sandy McKane first saw an example of a knitted helmet liner in a yarn store in Rutland, Vt., last summer.  When she got home, she was immediately knitted one herself.
When soldiers are issued helmets, they are often unlined, knitters at  Rutland’s Green Mountain Fibers & Yarns told her.  If they are lined, it’s with only a thin layer of silk.  So the wool helmet liners help keep GIs warm during winter and on cold desert nights. 
Once one soldier gets a wool liner, the knitters said, everyone else in the company wants one too.
McKane was moved by this notion to give a little home-sent care to each local soldier overseas.   
When she completed her first liner, she started asking around after a local soldier to give it to.
First she found Oneonta Patrolman Joe Tiemann, who is scheduled to be deployed to Afghanistan in February with the New York State Army National Guard’s 827th Engineer Company.
“At first he wasn’t sure how to put it on,” said McKane, “but once I explained it and he slipped it on, he broke out in a huge smile.”
Then she found Sgt. Stephen Keown, another member of 827th.  He too was very grateful. 
The two soldiers told McKane 180 soldiers will be part of the 827th deployment.  They come from 42 of New York’s 62 counties, including Otsego and Delaware.
So she decided to knit 180 helmet liners, but found she can only do about one a week.
She needs help, and is appealing to local knitters to help her.  The company is departing Feb. 15, so time is short.
McKane’s daughter, Charlotte, 14, is helping out.
The wool yarn in black, charcoal, brown, tan and gray is available at Knitting It All Together, 175 Main St.  These are the only colors the Armed Forces allows.  The yarn can be any soft, worsted (100 grams/3.5 ounces) wool yarn that will knit to gauge, such as Cascade 220 or equivalent.
Only yarn comprised of 100 percent wool will be accepted because the ground forces are not allowed to wear synthetic fibers. 
“Wool is inherently non-flammable and won’t melt against the skin in the event of an accident and is warm even when wet,” explained McKane, reading from the pattern she uses.
A skein of the wool yarn costs only $6, and all that is needed otherwise is a size 8, 16-inch circular needle, size 8 double-point needles, and size 6, 16-inch circular needles for the ribbings.
A similar project for people who do not knit but can sew is to help with sewing neck coolers for each of the soldiers.  
McKane is in contact with the company’s commanding executive commanding officer 1st Lt. Kevin O’Reilly to get the helmet liners to each solider.
In an interview by phone, Lieutenant O’Reilly described the area of Afghanistan the unit will be deployed to as somewhat high in altitude, where they will likely experience “cold, snow and high winds.” He had only seen a picture of the wool liners but said he thought they looked like they would be useful.
For a copy of the pattern, or to contribute to the drive, contact Sandy McKane at sandymckane@gmail.com or call her at 437-0586.