Quilt of Valor

Col. Thomas C. Joyce, (left) Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations commander, presents Senior Airman Dayra Rodriguez Rodriguez, a Quilt of Valor with the help of Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware and Chief Master Sgt. David Fish, AFMAO chief enlisted manager. Airman Rodriguez Rodriguez is an X-ray technician deployed to the Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. She is completing a 6-month rotation. The senator paid a visit to the mortuary to thank the men and women for the work they do in honoring America's fallen heroes. He compared the symbolism of the quilts pieced together to the team at the mortuary, explaining how although they may vary in age, ethnicity, branch of service and may come from different parts of the country, they all work together professionally to provide dignity to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Quilts have been long-standing American tradition during times of war. The quilts are made from volunteers for the Quilts of Valor Foundation whose mission is to provide quilts to individuals who have been wounded or touched by war. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Michael Stewart)