Wrapped in love | va tennessee valley health care | veterans affairs

Growing up, Army Veteran Thomas Mason always cared for his grandmother – a diabetic whom he sought to wrap in love and comfort as he helped her with a daily medical regimen. Recently at the

Chattanooga VA, Mason was wrapped in that same feeling as he received his personal quilt – an expression of warmth, comfort, and love – from the Quilts of Valor Foundation. While his

grandmother had concerns about him joining the Army, she encouraged him to find a career that he loved. He enlisted in the Army in 1991 and that decision eventually led him to becoming a

nurse at VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System. “She asked me to be something I could do outside the military, so I became a combat medic,” Mason said. Mason shared that he has a lot of

memories from the military, some pleasant and some not-so-pleasant. But being a nurse did make a difference in his life. Mason was surprised and honored that he was nominated to receive a

quilt at the recent ceremony at the Chattanooga VA Clinic. “It was really touching to get something that could be personal and meaningful and to have something that is a pleasant memory,”

Mason said. The Quilts of Valor Foundation was established in 2003 to honor Veterans across the country by presenting them with hand-made quilts. Barbara Price is the local leader with the

Quilts of Valor – Unity Chapter in Chattanooga. Each month the Chattanooga VA Clinic has the privilege of hosting a Quilt of Valor ceremony. This month’s presentation at the clinic was extra

special as Price presented Mason with his quilt.  “I quilt for a purpose, and it is the most rewarding thing that I have done,” Price said. “We love our Veterans, and we want to honor as

many as we can.” The local group of quilters presented 143 Veterans with handmade quilts in 2023 and they hope to exceed that number for 2024. When asked what he will do with his quilt,

Mason said, “I’ll keep it at the foot of my bed so every time I go to sleep at night, I remember that even in bad situations, there are good things that can come from it.”  If you would like

to attend a Quilt of Valor ceremony or nominate a Veteran for a Quilt of Valor, reach out to the Chattanooga VA Clinic Center for Development and Civic Engagement for more information at

423-893-6500 x27093.