Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 12118 making Veteran Honor bears for wounded vets

Veteran Honor BEARS!! for our sick and wounded vets in the  VA hospitals, young and old. Made from real service uniforms, for their comfort, to keep them company or to give, to their families, their friends--who ever they wish them for. As a thank you, in deep honor, for their service to us and our country. Each bear has a dog-tag shaped tag behind their necks tied on with a ribbon, with a thank you, and our Auxiliary Post number. Each bear has a heart, made from flag material appliqued on their chest. Most have stitch marks showing they are honorably authentic material.

Made by Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 12118

The Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 12118 have made 24 bears out of Camo type military uniforms from as many branches and service times as we can locate,  and Korea era wool uniforms--treated the wool first with Woolite and hair conditioner to soften the wool. Shirley has delivered 4 to the VA hospital in Livermore, and has 4 more to take her next visit. She called last week to ask if we minded if she delivered more to the Fresno VA hospital and I told her YES!! my french doors we've hung with chains and "s" hooks to suspend the bears out of the dog's reach..have about that many more waiting to be assembled but have run out of room. Melinda and Ashley are helping take the last of the uniforms we have apart, and Ralph has gotten to be a WHIZ with his tiny pocket knife taking some apart. His cousin in Florida [bless hers and her husband's hearts] have purchased 3 pieces and mailed them to us..

The program is about the vets in our VA hospitals that are so alone. The bears, made from REAL uniforms, are for company, to gift if they choose, to keep [I'm torn by an image of a lone hurting vet having at least a bear to talk to when no one is there, or just to know, someone cares, that doesn't judge, doesn't talk back, to comfort them, or to give to their own families for comfort while they are gone, or to simply give to whomever they want to.

We will keep making bears as long as we can.  We are just about out of uniforms and need more located. The Auxiliary allows us $10 per uniform, but have not found anymore recently. If the program doesn't  get accepted by the vets, will somehow find a way to deliver them to the Children's Home back east.

Many thanks go to:

Freddie and Buddy Brunson in Florida

Mark Lonien of US General Merchandise in Sonora, uniforms

Thrift shop here in Copper, uniforms and stuffed animals to sanatize for the stuffing

Bill Skellenger for his Korea uniforms

Ashley for her brother's uniforms [not confirmed yet--]

Shirley Burk for her trips to deliver

Melinda Hoff for her work taking them apart and ironing them!

Ralph, most excellent dis-assembler and stuffer!

 Eva

If you have uniforms you would like to donate to this cause please contact the copper gazette at coppergazette@gmail.com.