Rutland Herald
February 21, 2006
Fifty Iraq war veterans from around the state were presented with "Quilts of Valor" at a ceremony Monday night at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in White River Junction.The quilts were made by nationwide volunteers taking part in the Quilts for Soldiers organization based in Silver Springs, Md.
VA Hospital director Gary De Gasta said the quilts were in part a response to the poor attention given to veterans of the Vietnam War."I hope we've turned that around," he said.
Rep. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., was scheduled to be guest speaker for the event, but had a scheduling conflict. Samuel Haskins, a Vietnam veteran and aide to Sanders, read a statement stressing the importance of adequately funding the VA to give veterans the help they deserve.
Jessica, this is fabulous! Thanks sooooo much for posting about the event. This admin. in particular is absolutely shameful in how it turns its back on veterans. I'm sure all those who received quilts greatly appreciated them.
ReplyDeleteBummer that bernie couldn't come, though.