With our Gas Mask, we are trying to represent Madeline's time in Israel during the Gulf War. While in Israel during this time, she said their were a lot of attacks that involved bombs and gas. She would also hear the loud ring of alarms, which would mean she had to go inside. Though she was very distant from America, she will still in touch with her son's, and they were very worried about her. Fortunately, Madelyn made it out of the war zone peacefully, and she looks back on it as a life changing experience. 

The gulf war was caused by Iraq invading Kuwait. Iraq wanted Kuwait for it's top notch oil fields, to relieve the debt they owed them, and to expand their empire. The Israeli president at the time was Chaim Herzog. The Iraqi president at the time was strongly opposed of Israel. On April 2, 1990 the Iraq president stated “I swear to God we will let our fire eat half of Israel if it tries to wage anything against Iraq.” Iraq during the Gulf war had one of the worlds strongest chemical weapons, and if Israel attacked them, they would unleash those chemicals on Israel. This is why Madelyn and residents of Israel alike wore gas masks during the time. 

https://www.britannica.com/place/Israel/The-question-of-Palestinian-autonomy#ref741872

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/myths-and-facts-the-gulf-wars-chapter-13#_ednref7