Volunteers gathered in Bryan to sew quilt tops for veterans
BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – The first Saturday in February is Quilts of Valor National Sew Day.
Groups across the country participate, sewing quilts for veterans. Saturday morning, volunteers gathered in Bryan to sew quilt tops. Brazos Bluebonnet Quilt Guild participated in Quilts of Valor Sew Day at American Legion Post 159 and set up 17 sewing kits for the volunteers to begin sewing the quilt tops.
35 volunteers showed up with their sewing machines and sewing supplies and sewed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Once the quilts are finished [later this year], they are delivered to both those who are retired veterans and those who are on active duty.
“It does not matter if you served 2 years, 4 years, 20 years, as long as it was an honorable discharge, we try to get them a quilt,” said Marjean Neve, the Quilts of Valor Sew in Day coordinator.
KBTX spoke with a veteran who was there to give back to others who served. Veteran Charles Gilreath served in Germany for two years during the Vietnam era.
“I was drafted out of graduate school and spent 2 years in the army basically doing communications work,” said Gilreath.
Charles, a member of the Brazos Bluebonnet Quilt Guild, says he got a quilt for his service 5 years ago.
“It’s a good recognition, it made me feel very good,” said Gilreath.
Not only was Charles given a quilt, but he also sews quilt tops for Quilts of Valor Sew Day.
“I have been doing this probably about half a dozen years,” said Gilreath.
Charles was one of the many volunteers sewing quilt tops for National Quilts of Valor Sew Day.
“I also remember that once we finish these we will get the opportunity to present those to other veterans and that’s always a good thing to look forward to,” said Gilreath. “It really is a service activity that recognizes someone doing the duty that their country asks of them.”
By the end of the year, they hope to have those 17 quilts completed to give to veterans.
