Quilts of valor

GRANTS, N.M. - This past Monday, two Vietnam veterans were the recipients of Quilts of Valor which were donated by local quilt sewers.

According to Wayne Robertson of Vets helping Vets, a couple of women in Gallup that have a quilting guild wanted to expand the Quilts of Valor to the Grants area and reached out to the Grants Quilt Guild to see if they would like to donate a couple of quilts to local veterans.

“There was a lady in Grants that did quilting, and she had a couple of quilts that she donated for this event of honoring veterans,” Robertson said. “This is a combined effort between the Vets helping Vets, the American Legion and the local quilt guild.”

Robertson said the Quilt of Valor has been an ongoing event in Gallup and this is the first time it has been done in Grants.

“It just reminds me of the good people who fought for and laid down their lives for this country,” Vietnam Veteran Lino Olivas said. “It’s an honor to be a part of a group of people who served, and I am honored to the woman who made these quilts for us. We really accept their love.”

Vietnam veteran William L. Binion said he is very much honored to receive a Quilt of Valor.

“It’s nice that others are thinking about the veterans,” Binion said.

Robertson said he also drives D.A.V. van to transport veterans to medical appointments in Albu querque.

“I will pick up veterans in Grants, all they need to do is contact the American Legion Post 80 and let [Aaron] Mr. Dean know, and we will come pick them up,” Robertson said. “I am also looking for another volunteer driver at this point as well.”

American Legion Post 80 Commander, Aaron Dean said this was a great thing.

“When I got in contact with the lady from Gallup about this Quilt of Valor event, she told me that she wanted to do the event in Grants,” Dean said. “She has extra quilts and wants for us to have more events like this one in the future. We want to keep this going for our local veterans.”

Post 80 vice commander Sherman McCoy said this event means a lot to him and the veterans.

“It shows we care about our veterans,” McCoy said. “All the members of Post 80 will always be here to help our veterans whenever they need it.”

Dean said if any veteran needs a ride to a medical appointment in Albuquerque on Tuesdays, through the D.A.V. van, they need to get a hold of him or the American Legion no later the Friday prior so arrangements can be made for the pick-up.

For more information contact Aaron Dean at the American Legion Post 80 in Grants at 505-287-5179 or 505-290-0481.