Girl Scout Cadettes Earn Silver Award Honoring Veterans at Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

Patriotic quilts warm residents’ hearts, body and soul

Twenty-four U.S. military veterans at Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center were literally blanketed with love by two local Girl Scout Cadettes working on their Silver Award.   Best friends Miranda Rago and Eviana Holmes of Troop 590 dedicated their “Take Action” service project to the aging soldiers, quilting patriotic patchworks to warm the veterans residing at the Center.

According to Rago, the inspiration for their service project came as a result of her volunteer work at Gurwin.  “My mother has worked at Gurwin for 27 years,” said Rago.  “I participated in the Center’s teen volunteer camp this year, and found out that Gurwin has a lot of residents who are veterans.  We decided that this would be the perfect group to present our quilts to.”

The 14-year-old sewing novices were taught the skill by a troop leader specifically for the project, stitching two dozen lap blankets from squares of denim cut from donated jeans by family and friends.   The Cadettes decorated each blanket with American flags and other symbols, as well as messages of gratitude for the veterans’ service.

Resident , a U.S. Navy veteran, was very touched by the gift.  “It was so nice of them to honor me,” he said, his eyes filling with tears. “It’s beautiful.”

Thanking them for their thoughtfulness, Dawn Lettau, CTRS, Director of Therapeutic Recreation at the Gurwin Center, said, “These Cadettes have touched the hearts of our veterans, many of who served during World War II, Vietnam or in Korea.   Reaching out to remember our veterans with their beautiful handmade gifts has touched the hearts of both our residents and staff.  We are grateful that they chose to honor our courageous veterans in such a unique way.”

The Silver Award is the highest honor a Cadette can earn before moving on to become a Girl Scout Senior as a freshman in High School.  Both girls are from Selden and attend Newfield High School.