Speaker-Lap Robes for Veterans-Nancy Van Apeldoorn On a cold, windy, rainy November day in Washington, DC, a Vietnam Veteran sat shivering in his wheelchair while attending the US Marine Corp’s 232nd birthday celebration at the Iwo Jima Memorial. Seeing his need, Nancy Van Apeldoorn, a Marine Vietnam Veteran’s wife, asked several times for one of the blankets saved for attending dignitaries. Finally, one was given to warm Veteran Wally Gekoski.
Inspired by that experience and by her long friendship with Gekoski, a Lifetime Member of VVA Chapter 20 and proud Marine who passed away just weeks after that incident, Nancy returned home with a mission: to warm, comfort, honor and thank as many Rochester area veterans as she could reach.
What started with one lap robe has grown into an organized group of dedicated community volunteers. Lap Robes for Veterans is a not-for-profit, 501c3 tax exempt organization under the umbrella of Finger Lakes Area Community Endowment / Canandaigua National Bank. Since 2006, volunteers have produced 4,000 lap robes which have been presented to Veterans in local care and hospice facilities, to individual Veterans, and to Gold Star Mothers. Some have been sent to Walter Reed Hospital for returning injured Veterans. Since 2012, each Rochester Honor Flight Veteran has been given a lap robe upon their return to the Rochester International Airport - over 1000 lap robes.
Regular Lap Robes for Veterans sew dates are held at Jackie Lynn’s Discount Fabric Center in Irondequoit. It costs approximately $35 to make each lap robe. Fabric is paid for with donations. Organizations who fund enough lap robes for an Honor Flight are invited to hand them out to the returning Veterans. Getting to present a Veteran with his/her lap robe is a truly heartwarming experience. The donating organization is also recognized at the ceremony that recognizes the returning Veterans.
Nancy graciously acknowledged Irondequoit Rotary Members for their service with a branch blanket. |