By Heather Bell
RADFORD – VFW Post 776 Commander Gary Harris was recently presented with a quilt from the Quilt of Valor Foundation at the VFW’s holiday dinner, held Dec. 16 at the Fraternal Order of Police headquarters in Radford.
The Quilt of Valor Foundation presents quilts to service members and veterans. As of July 31, 2023, Quilts of Valor has presented 354,712 handmade quilts.
“A Quilt of Valor is more than just a handmade quilt; it embodies gratitude, respect, and appreciation for those who have served our nation,” according to the Foundation. “These meticulously crafted quilts, whether machine or hand quilted, hold within their stitches a profound recognition of the struggles and triumphs of our service members. The Quilts of Valor Foundation aims to wrap these individuals in a tangible reminder of our nation’s deep respect for their service and sacrifice.”
Harris said he is honored to be recognized by the Quilt of Valor Foundation.
“It was an honor by just being selected- why me? There are others more deserving than me,” he said. “To find out how long this has been going on was even more wonderful and to see the quilt with the eagle on it, made it so much more special because I collect eagles, almost like it was meant to be.”
The Quilts of Valor Foundation began in 2003 when founder Catherine Roberts’ son Nat was deployed in Iraq.