Mission

The Mission Moves Forward

Where my quilts will be going:

To Deputy Chief of Police in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, Stephen G. Xiarhos

Deputy Chief Xiarhos lost his son Nick to the fighting in Afghanistan.  Nick was a Marine, and ever since his death, in addition to his official duties with our local police department, Deputy Chief Xiarhos has been a dedicated advocate for active-duty service personnel and veterans from all branches of the military.

He told me, if I get the quilts to him, he will get them to veterans.  He gave me a few options - veterans that are homeless, veterans in nursing homes, veterans in V.A. hospitals, to Gold Star Families, or, that the quilts could be raffled off as part of his "Big Nick's Ride For The Fallen" (2015) which is held every July, with the proceeds going to our local high school's scholarship fund.

2016 Big Nick's Ride For The Fallen
2017 Big Nick's Ride For The Fallen

Nick was a good friend of my son's, and as such, my father knew all about Nick and his Sacrifice.

Thank you, Deputy Chief Xiarhos, I hope to have these quilts to you quickly.

UPDATE: June 13, 2016 Quilts 2 and 3 are received by Deputy Chief Stephen G. Xiarhos for presenting to Veterans of his choice. Thank you!! Deputy Chief Xiarhos!

I found another Organization making quilts for service personnel :

Fallen Hero Quilts

Organizations similar to my mission:

Fallen Hero Quilts

Home Of The Brave Quilts

Quilts of Honor

Quilts Of Valor

The above are large organizations, and you are encouraged to work with them or donate through them if you choose to.

My mission started as a way to honor my father's service in the United States Army, and this has been the only way I have been able to move forward since his recent death.  My father was a veteran who did not accept many non-government benefits in our society that are there to assist them.  I know he felt someone else needed assistance more than he did.  I have decided that a further way to honor his sacrifice of serving in our armed forces is to help to provide a quilt for each veteran that I can.  The organizations above, as I said, are very well organized.  I did consider making quilts to give to them to distribute.  The problem with that for me was I knew I would be wondering who received the quilt (s).  My mission is to make it more personal if I can.  I plan on contacting the government services that can help with recipients, such as The Veterans Administration, but I also am looking more locally into the situations of our homeless vets.

I grew up here on Cape Cod, and my family lived here together for many years. Cape Cod has changed since I first came here to live 46 years ago.  There are more homeless, there is more crime, there are more people in need.  I hope to establish a working relationship with a shelter or organization here on Cape Cod that will help me get my quilts to homeless veterans.

I will update my progress with the label for this blog "Mission".