Charity Spotlight
Thursday March 29, 2007
The Tuskegee Airmen were honored with the Congressional Gold Medal today for their valiant service in World War II as well as their efforts to desegregate the military.
Of the nearly 1,000 men who made up the elite, all-African American corps, about 400 are still alive. America is losing its World War II veterans, and the National World War II Museum in New Orleans seeks to honor those veterans who are still alive through a Knit Your Bit campaign.
The program to provide scarves to World War II veterans began last October and was expected to be a short-term project that ended with the winter. But after receiving more than 1,000 scarves from 42 states, the museum decided to keep the project going.
The project was the brainchild of Lauren Handley, an education projects coordinator at the museum. She said she originally hoped to get about 30 scarves; she had no idea what could happen when knitters get behind a project!
The project continues, and the museum is accepting scarves, largely in male-friendly colors and styles, which are distributed through veterans' hospitals and other organizations.
Completed scarves may be sent year-round to:
The National World War II Museum
Knit Your Bit Campaign
945 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Check out these patterns if you're looking for ideas on how to contribute:
Of the nearly 1,000 men who made up the elite, all-African American corps, about 400 are still alive. America is losing its World War II veterans, and the National World War II Museum in New Orleans seeks to honor those veterans who are still alive through a Knit Your Bit campaign.
The program to provide scarves to World War II veterans began last October and was expected to be a short-term project that ended with the winter. But after receiving more than 1,000 scarves from 42 states, the museum decided to keep the project going.
The project was the brainchild of Lauren Handley, an education projects coordinator at the museum. She said she originally hoped to get about 30 scarves; she had no idea what could happen when knitters get behind a project!
The project continues, and the museum is accepting scarves, largely in male-friendly colors and styles, which are distributed through veterans' hospitals and other organizations.
Completed scarves may be sent year-round to:
The National World War II Museum
Knit Your Bit Campaign
945 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Check out these patterns if you're looking for ideas on how to contribute:
Comments
This is a great cause. Thanks for writing about it!
I agree that it’s a great cause. What are your thoughts about knitting or crocheting lap robes and shawls for the men? Please e-mail me.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Nancy Schrempp