SUPPORTING THE TROOPS: Steve Swanson and his wife Star of Snoqualmie, Wash., were the winners of the quilt Island women made to raise funds for American Hero Quilts, whose many volunteers sew quilts for wounded service men and women. A raffle was held this spring for the quilt, with the drawing on April 15. The quilters raised $7,300 for the quilt project, which delivered another 100 quilts to a new rehabilitation facility at Madigan Hospital last Thursday. The Swansons were delighted to win the quilt, saying they would always cherish it and understand its true meaning. Swanson works with Operation Homefront, which provides emergency support and morale to the troops, the families they leave behind and the servicemen and women when they return home. Islander Margaret Bickle sold Swanson the winning ticket, and Sue Nebeker, the founder of American Hero Quilts, filled it out. They were all at a “packout” at the Camp Murray Armory, where Swanson was a volunteer, filling boxes with items the soldiers could use and then shipping them overseas. For more information about American Hero Quilts go to www.AmericanHeroQuilts.com. The group says it can always use donations of time and money.
Margaret Bickel/courtesy photo
