Some Heroes Wear Quilts: Army Reserve Soldier recognized by Quilts of Valor during International Quilting Festival
Col. Tina L. Kirkpatrick (left), commander, commander, 475th Quartermaster Group, expresses her gratitude to Donna Swanson (right), New Hampshire state coordinator, Quilts of Valor, during the International Quilting Festival in Houston Nov. 3, 2022. Swanson, whose husband, sons and grandsons are combat veterans, invited Kirkpatrick to the festival so she and her staff could present a custom quilt designed by Leo McClure, one of more than 10,000 Quilts of Valor members. Since 2003, the Quilts of Valor Foundation has covered veterans and service members touched by war with handmade quilts made by one of more than 10,000 Foundation members spread throughout the country. The Foundation achieved a major milestone when it produced its 300,000th quilt in April 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. John L. Carkeet IV, 75th Innovation Command)