Quilts of Valor honors 10 local veterans for their service

 

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- 10 local veterans were honored Sunday at Mission BBQ with homemade quilts, put together and organized by Quilts of Valor, a nationwide organization with a chapter in South Bend. 

Veterans from of all different backgrounds, ages, affiliations and service records were honored, from Vietnam veterans in their 80s to men and women in their 40s who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Veterans who receive the quilts aren't just handed the gift however, they're wrapped in the quilt by volunteers or family members, as the quilt is supposed to represent a feeling of warmth, safety and comfort. 

Over the past 20 years, Quilts of Valor have given out more than 359,000 quilts to veterans across the country. 

Organizers thanked Mission BBQ for their help in hosting the event, which was widely attended by the community. 

Each quilt awarded has its own unique style, and veterans are given the contact information of the quiltmaker should they want to reach out and learn more about the quilt itself. 

Those honored like National Guard veteran, Matt Trausch, say that receiving the quilts was a huge honor. 

"It might not seem like a lot to an ordinary person, but to be recognized for the sacrifices that we make as veterans is really neat." said Trausch.

Anyone who want to learn more about the Quilts of Valor program and their services can find more information here.