Two BDG Airmen rewarded for heroic acts

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Ceaira Tinsley
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  -- (Editor's note: The mention of the nonprofit organization Quilts of Valor does not constitute endorsement or affiliation by Moody Air Force Base or the U.S. Air Force.)

Members of a local quilting guild presented two Airmen from the 820th Base Defense Group with quilts of valor, Dec. 9, here.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Sean Soria and Tech Sgt. Jack Whatley, 822d Base Defense Squadron Purple Heart recipients, received hand-crafted quilts for their heroic and brave efforts.

According to the Quilts of Valor Foundation, the quilts are designed by hand to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comfort and healing.

"Since 2003, they've handed out 124,000 quilts or more and it's phenomenal," said Col. Michael Ross, 820th BDG commander. "Their target audience has been military members of all services who have sacrificed for this country and have been awarded a Purple Heart."

Jane Knight and Zella Fuller, members of a local quilting guild, began quilting as young girls. The duo started making quilts for service members in 2004, after seeing an advertisement in a magazine, and joined forces with others who share their love of sewing. Knight and Fuller have sewn more than 200 quilts and describe putting a quilt in the hands of a service member as unbelievable.

"We decided that this was something that we could do for the men and women in service," said Knight. "We've made so many now that we can whip one up pretty quickly. We have a formula now, and we cut a bunch of them out at one time and we just start sewing."

While the acts may appear small to the quilters, to the men and women who wear the uniform, it's much more.

"This is another representation of the local community supporting Moody Air Force Base," Ross added. "They are (representations) of the reason why, when somebody comes up to me and says, 'thank you for your service,' I say, 'thank you for making it worth it.'"