11 March 2024
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – A dozen veterans received handmade quilts of valor in Wichita Sunday.
Of the dozen men who were gifted quilts of valor, many served decades ago in the Vietnam War.
They said their service in the military hasn’t always been met with a warm welcome. The quilts are helping distance the chill of their initial reception coming home from the war.
“People realize that you’ve made a sacrifice for your country and for themselves and in their way they’re showing their appreciation for that sacrifice and that means a lot,” said veteran Gaylen Klein.
For veterans like Klein it’s also the first time they’ve been publicly recognized.
“Some of them have told us this is the first time someone told them thank you for your service,” said Wichita Quilts of Valor Coordinator Lora Lagree.
Blanket recipient Steve Miller saidreceiving the handmade item meant a lot to him.
At the same time, he knows it meant more to some of the men who served before his time in Vietnam.
“When they came back, they didn’t get recognized. It was terrible and now finally everybody is realizing that hey those guys they put their lives on the line,” Miller said.
“I was elated to have a quilt made by a number of different people because they put their heart and soul in making these quilts,” said veteran Greg Cooper.
The ladies at quilts of valor said not every veteran wants to share stories about their service because of the violence they’ve seen.
They said the blankets are their way of pouring love into those veterans.