Marine Moms-Bethesda, announced that this year's annual raffle quilt recipient is Southeast Tennessee Area Young Marines based in Cleveland. Their name was drawn on Sunday, during Marine Moms-Bethesda's monthly luncheon at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD.
“Blooming Freedom”, a nine-patch quilt in patriotic red, white and blue fabric, was generously donated to MM-B by Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore, Easton, Md., to raise funds for the luncheons. Raffle tickets for the Young Marines were donated by an anonymous benefactor.
This is the second quilt drawn for a southeastern Tennessee group. The JROTC at Sequoyah High School in Soddy Daisy was the 2013 recipient under the same anonymous circumstances.
“It's heart-warming to see young people in Tennessee recognized by someone, and we're very grateful for their support of an organization that has benefited so many Tennessee wounded warriors and their families over the years here in Maryland.Thank you for raising men and women willing to defend our country's Freedoms, Tennessee,” said Jane LeCompte, co-founder of Marine Moms-Bethesda.
Marine Moms-Bethesda formed after two Marine moms visited Bethesda Naval Hospital (now Walter Reed NMMC) in 2005 to support their sons' friends who were wounded in combat. Since 2007, the all-volunteer organization has provided wounded, injured and ill patients and family members with monthly luncheons and comfort items during their recovery and rehabilitation while letting them know the nation supports them. The luncheon volunteers are from the Maryland, DC, and Virginia areas and beyond, with supporters nationwide.