ROCK ISLAND, Illinois - Area veterans are being honored with hand-made quilts through the Quilts for Valor organization.
Nearly 80 people who served in the different branches of the military received a quilt on Sunday, November 6th, 2016 made by local volunteers, recognizing their years of service. The organization was started in 2003 by a Blue Star mother in Delaware, and it now has branches throughout the country, including the Quad Cities. The group typically makes and hands out around 200 quilts a year, and each time they hand it off to a veteran, it's a moment they'll always remember.
"My volunteers, we get very emotional with this. It's just one of those things that will bring tears to your eyes. The veterans, they're very appreciative, even though most of them will say they earn it, but they all do," local Quilts For Valor volunteer Terry Austin said.
This is the sixth year that the group has held a public presentation of the quilts, each year trying to add more and more honorees.