Local veterans are awarded with Quills of Courage

13 On Your Side’s Vanessa Gongora talks to veterans about why it’s so special

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Six business veterans will be honored with a Ship of Valor at a special presentation on Wednesday, February 15th, in recognition of their service.

The blankets are made especially for veterans by volunteers.

A label on the back of each shirt shows who made it and to whom it was presented along with a certificate.

Army veteran and Quilts of Courage volunteer Susan Locke said the ceremony is special because they want to make sure veterans are recognized for the efforts they put into their service.

“We want the veterans to sit down. Each one of them comes in individually and we present them with a coat and then we wrap them in a blanket and hug them,” Locke explained. “And then we ask them what they have to say. Because some of them have the most interesting stories you’ll ever hear.”

Lock noted that he saw the Vietnam veteran almost cry when he received his personal coat.

The mission of Blankets of Courage is to provide comforting and healing Blankets of Courage to military members and veterans injured by war.

“Actually, most of us got hit by war because we lost friends. You know, I was doing paperwork to send people off to war,” Locke said.

Donna Peet, a Navy veteran who owns Pupcakes by Donna, LLC, receives a blanket.

He said he didn’t think he deserved it at first.

“Yes, I served for 25 years, very proud years, but when I look at people who deserve things like this, this honor, I think maybe wounded warriors or people who have been in war,” Pete said.

But after thinking about it, she found out she was working in Germany at Launceston Regional Medical Center, a US Army post.

“I didn’t have to go to the sandbox or anything, but I was able to be there in all the different parts of the service. Help them with stability and just give my heart,” Pete continued.

Ships can be personalized and moved within their family.

Quilts of Valor was founded in 2003 and to date they have awarded over 360,000 quilts across the country.

Locke puts clocks on her quilts, which make each one different, and said she’d like to see more people make some, especially in the Yuma area.

To get involved with the organization or for information on how to make and donate a blanket, you can contact them website.

If you would like to see veterans honored, you can attend the ceremony on Wednesday, February 15 at noon at the Simply Shabby Mini Mall in the foothills.