Special Quilts Presented to Valley Veterans
MCALLEN – While many people in the Rio Grande Valley celebrated Independence Day outdoors at parades and other gatherings in the near triple-digit temperatures, a special group of veterans spent their time indoors. They felt a different kind of warmth to honor their contributions to the country.
The veterans at the Alfredo Gonzalez Texas State Veterans Home in McAllen were presented with unique quilts given to them by members of the Rio Grande Valley Quilt Guild.
"Most of them were hanging on to those quilts for dear life as we went down the hallways," said Renee Durkis, who organized the giveaway. "So, we could tell they really enjoyed getting them because it was something special just for them."
Around 300 members of the organization crafted the quilts. They spent months working on them. Each quilt took between 10 and 20 hours to create.
"It was worth every minute that it took us to quilt them, and every pin prick that we had along the way," said Durkis.
Several of the guild members were veterans themselves. Others like Durkis, have close ties. Her husband was a veteran.
"We are just citizens of America and we just want to appreciate those who've given us our freedom," said Durkis.
She said any Valley veteran interested in receiving a quilt can apply for one at rgvqg.com.