It was a blustery, wet morning in Petersburg on Nov. 11. But blowing rain didn’t stop students and community members from packing the sidewalks by the elementary school to thank local veterans passing by.
Every year on Veterans Day, the school district honors local veterans with a parade.
The brief event began with four Coast Guardsmen leading a line of vehicles wrapped around the block. Students sang the national anthem, followed by sirens blaring.
Students of all ages waved handmade posters and cheered as fire trucks and veterans in cars rolled through the street.
Pastor Ken Severa served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1966-67. He walked in the parade, shaking hands with students and community members.
“The veterans are getting recognized,” Severa said of the parade’s meaning to him. “It’s a tribute to all of those that served and died.”
As part of an ongoing national project to give handmade quilts to veterans, local quilters sewed Quilts of Valor for two Petersburg veterans this year.
Project coordinator Carol Kandoll said they’ve given out at least 150 quilts to veterans in town in the last decade.
“We do it as a way to honor and comfort the veterans who have served,” Kandoll said. “Some of them have experienced horrific things and are very touched by the fact civilians want to recognize their service.”
The red, white and blue quilts are usually given out at the annual parade, draped around the shoulders of the veterans. Kandoll said this year’s recipients would be given them afterwards.
“Sometimes we will award them privately, some veterans prefer not to have it done in public,” Kandoll said. “It can be, for some, very emotional because of what they’ve dealt with.”
Alongside the scores of residents, young and elderly who lined the street Wednesday morning, Kandoll thanked veterans for their service.
Community members who know a veteran in Petersburg who hasn’t received a Quilt of Valor yet can contact Kandoll at (907) 518-1168.
