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Michael
McDaniel, a Vietnam veteran and two-time Purple Heart recipient,
receives a Quilt of Valor from Gail Belmont.
Vietnam
veterans aid Quilts of Valor
By
Nick Baptista
What began as a donation to assist the local Quilts of Valor
program ended as a tribute to a Vietnam veteran’s service to his
country 40 years ago.
Rancho Calaveras resident Michael McDaniel presented a $1,000
check from the Viet Nam Veterans of Diablo Valley to Belmont Quilts of
Valor during Tuesday’s monthly meeting of the Loose Threads Quilt
Guild of Valley Springs. McDaniel is a past president of Viet Nam
Veterans of Diablo Valley and last month asked Gail Belmont from Quilts
of Valor to speak before the group.
Belmont’s presentation was so powerful, the Viet Nam Veterans
decided to make a donation to the cause, McDaniel said.
“We’re very rarely moved so much,” McDaniel said. “We
have a great amount of appreciation for what Quilts of Valor is
doing.”
Viet Nam Veterans of Diablo Valley extends associate membership
to all current veterans, and one of the vets at Belmont’s presentation
is a triple amputee and had received a Quilt of Valor, McDaniel added.
The quilt is a prized possession and made a difference in the
young man’s life, he said, and in all, Viet Nam Veterans of Diablo
Valley has four double or triple amputees as associate members.
“The guys from Diablo Valley appreciate all the groups’
efforts to show support and make sure no soldier coming home is not
appreciated,” McDaniel said.
The donation will go toward quilt materials and shipping
expenses, Belmont said. She estimates the $1,000 will equate to 35
quilts.
As a surprise, Belmont presented McDaniel with a Quilt of Valor.
McDaniel, a local appraiser, served in Vietnam from September of
1967 to April of 1969 in the U.S. Marine Corps. He received two Purple
Hearts and was wounded his last day in Vietnam and airlifted out.
“I’m overwhelmed,” McDaniel said. “I was not expecting
that. It’s very touching and something I will cherish forever.”
Geene Silva pieced the top. It has a Marine Corps insignia in the
center and smaller ones serve as a border.
Valley Springs area women have been creating quilts for wounded
U.S. service men and women since hostilities began in Afghanistan and
Iraq. Quilts of Valor is a nationwide foundation with similar groups
across the county working to provide quilts to comfort all
combat-wounded service members.
Belmont Quilts of Valor has become the Northern California Quilts
of Valor coordinator and that involves receiving donated quilts from
other guilds and sewing groups and shipping them to the troops.
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For further info, please call or email.
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