Michele Jachim Barrett

It started with six quilts a little more than a decade ago.

Two members of the Thread Bears Quilters’ Guild sewed a special memento for veterans they knew who were traveling on Honor Flight Syracuse’s (HFS) inaugural mission. The veterans’ emotional reactions after receiving the quilts made it clear this gesture had a deeply meaningful purpose. What started as a small act of kindness on Mission 1 has grown into a heartfelt community service project, with the Thread Bears providing approximately 170 quilts each year to veterans traveling on HFS missions. 

Each and every veteran flying since HFS Mission 2 has received a quilt, with many other quilts presented to veterans unable to travel on a flight for health reasons. “Honor Flight Syracuse is deeply grateful to all of the quilters who have contributed over the years,” says Dick Blansett, HFS board member and past treasurer. “Their time, talent, and generosity have helped honor our veterans in a truly special way,” he adds. After every mission, thank you notes come back directly to the Guild expressing the veterans’ appreciation. According to the Guild and HFS, some of the veterans have spent their final days wrapped in their quilts, with others even buried with them.

Over the years, the Thread Bears have collaborated with other guilds from the Central New York area to spread the quilt assembly out to more hands.  Members of the Thread Bears and partner guilds bring the quilts to each Welcome Home celebration, handing them to veterans on each mission as they line up for the parade.  The guild members take great pride and joy in being able to hand each veteran a quilt and say a few words.  A tag on each quilt acknowledges the person who created it.

Candy Crayton, community service coordinator for Thread Bears, explains the generosity of fellow guilds and individuals throughout our community make this amazing feat possible. In the early days, quilters used their own fabric to create the quilts. But as demand grew, a fund was established to help offset material costs. The guild began purchasing fabric and buying wholesale and assembling kits to streamline the process.

“The story of the quilts and the Thread Bears and Candy is so much more than 1,600 quilts – it’s the emotion and passion that has kept the effort going for over a decade now,” says Blansett. 

Crayton enjoys speaking with as many veterans as she can, thanking them personally. Of many memorable interactions, she always recalls one in particular. It was shortly after the COVID pandemic ended and people were very cautious. 

Being a Navy veteran herself and a daughter of a Marine Corps veteran, when approaching a Vietnam veteran who was six-foot four, she knew instantly he was a Marine by the way he held himself. She told him how proud she was to be a part of the Honor Flight organization, to have the chance to thank him and so many others for their service, and to say welcome home. 

“I shook his hand and looked up at him. He had tears in his eyes. He asked if he could have a hug, and he told me this was the first time anyone had welcomed him home. After that, I knew I would be doing this for as long as possible.”

With Deepest Appreciation

Honor Flight Syracuse is deeply grateful to the many individuals who sew the quilts as well as the numerous quilt guilds who make these special gifts possible. If you are a quilter interested in getting involved in this very meaningful work with Honor Flight Syracuse, please reach out to Candy Crayton, the contact for Syracuse Honor Flight quilts, at ccrayton@gmail.com.