Every year, the members of Quilts of Valor (QOV) work tirelessly to keep those in uniform warm, both from the cold and from the hardships of military life. During the past seven years, the group has crafted and given away 57,665 quilts to Servicemembers and veterans.

Sheryl Anderson, chairperson for the local QOV chapter, kicked off the group's latest initiative in September as she and her group began quilting for the men and women of the 627th Security Forces Squadron (SFS) on Joint Base Lewis-McChord McChord Field.

On Veterans Day, inside the brand new Community Living Center at the American Lake Veteran's Affairs (VA), the first batch of quilts was presented to active duty Airmen - with a little help from some special honorary quilters from the VA's Wellness Clinic.

The Wellness Clinic is intended to teach participants how to maintain good mental and physical health, which often means giving back to the community. As part of that, 27 members of a WHAT class offered up some words of inspiration and quotes, along with their own handprints, for three special quilts.

Dwayne Taylor, who spent just over seven years in the Army, was one of those hands. "I was in the class, so I helped," said Taylor, who helped to present the handprint quilts. "I forgot about it until they called to ask if I'd come today. I am glad; this is a great day."

The eight quilts presented at the VA's Nov. 11 ceremony went to the following Airmen, all with the 627th SFS: Tech. Sgt. Russell M. Mattson; Staff Sgt. Karla Wilson; Staff Sgt. Anthony Cabanillas; Staff Sgt. Matthew Templet; Staff Sgt. Tad Orndorff; Staff Sgt. Shannon Ratliff; Staff Sgt. Ashley Thompson and Senior Airman John Wade.

The QOV group will be hard at work for the next 11 months creating enough quilts for all of the 250 Airmen in the 627th SFS, Anderson said.