Threads of valor: Southport veteran gifted a symbol of appreciation

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — More than 50 years after his service ended, a Southport man received a special gift in his honor.

David Bianchi was a rifleman in the Army who received a less-than-warm welcome upon returning from Vietnam.

The appreciation he’s receiving now is long overdue.

“You know, people are actually thanking me for my service,” Bianchi said. “But I remember, years ago, I mean, it wasn’t like that. It was just the opposite of thank you for your service kind of a thing.”

To thank David for his service, his sister Carolyn nominated him to receive a Quilt of Valor, and then took it one step further by volunteering to make it.

The Quilts of Valor Foundation began more than 20 years ago as a way to thank veterans for their service, sacrifice and valor in serving our nation.

“The quilt that I have, that I got as a present, I just says ‘Wow, look at this thing, this is amazing,'” Bianchi said. “In the beginning, when the thank you for your service started, it was like, we were shocked. And I felt really good, really good, as a veteran.”

Marty Kaminski presented Bianchi with the quilt at the Bianchi family business in Southport.

Kaminski received his quilt years ago and said every person he’s given one to has had their own burden to bear.

“It talks about being touched by war,” Kaminski said. “I look at that as you went to boot camp, you signed a blank check that said you would go anywhere that you were told to go. So as far as I’m concerned, you’re touched by war.”

Any veteran or active duty service member can be nominated and given a quilt.

Since its start in 2003, more than 375,000 quilts of valor have been to veterans and service members.