Woven Together: A Community, A Quilt, and A Story of Service

This Veterans Day, we reflect on the people who have served our country, the families who stand beside them, and the communities that continue to honor their contributions.

Sometimes, a community project becomes something much more than the activity itself. It becomes a way to bring generations together, share stories, and remind us of the connections that make a community special.

In the spring of 2026, children in the Fort Lewis Elementary Y After School program participated in a special project with Quilts of Valor, a national organization that honors service members and veterans touched by war through the presentation of handmade quilts.

Under the leadership of current Licensed Childcare Coordinator Stephanie Dobe, and former Y After School Site Director Pillar Sirrine-Romero, the children helped create a template that would become part of a Quilt of Valor presented to a member of our own community.

The project gave the children an opportunity to learn about patriotism, service, sacrifice, and gratitude. They learned that behind every uniform is a person with a story, a family, and experiences that deserve recognition. Most importantly, they discovered that even something as simple as contributing to a quilt can be a meaningful way to say thank you.

The recipient of this community quilt is Colin Hudson of the Salem Police Department, a U.S. Air Force Senior Airman (Ret.).

There is another reason this recognition feels especially close to home. Colin's connection to the Salem Family YMCA goes back more than two decades, and it is also where his and his wife Jessica's story began.

Colin joined the Salem YMCA in 2002 after leaving military service. He enjoyed basketball and regularly participated in pickup games throughout the week. In 2005, Jessica began working part-time at the YMCA front desk while attending Roanoke College. One of her responsibilities was monitoring those very basketball games.

Their paths crossed often over the next couple of years. In the late winter of 2007, Colin severely rolled his ankle during a game. Jessica was working that evening, completed the incident report, and brought him a cold compress. What started as an ordinary evening at the YMCA became the beginning of a lasting relationship.

Today, the YMCA remains an important part of their family's story. It is where they met, where they made lasting memories, and where they eventually raised their two children through YMCA programs. Jessica shared that the YMCA has been a constant in their family's lives, making the opportunity to hold the Quilts of Valor ceremony here especially meaningful

Stories like Colin and Jessica's are a wonderful reminder of what a YMCA can mean to a community. We are not simply a place where people come to exercise, attend programs, or participate in activities. We are a place where friendships begin, families grow, children learn, and connections last long after the programs themselves have ended.

At YMCA of Virginia's Blue Ridge, we are proud to be part of a community that values service, recognizes our veterans, and brings people together. Partnerships like Quilts of Valor allow us to connect the experiences of those who have served with the younger generations who will carry their stories forward.

We are honored to participate in the Quilts of Valor mission and grateful to everyone who helped make this project possible.

To Colin, thank you for your service to our country and to our community. To Jessica, thank you for sharing such a special part of your family's story. And to the children at Fort Lewis Elementary, we hope you remember that what you helped create represents something much bigger than a quilt. It represents gratitude, kindness, and respect for those who have given so much.

This Veterans Day, we encourage our community to take a moment to recognize the veterans among us. Their stories are part of our community's story, and they deserve to be remembered.