John Nason, a veteran of the Marines who served in the Vietnam War and resident of Scarborough, was joined by his Vet to Vet Maine (V2VM) volunteers, the Southern Maine Marine Corps League, family and friends when he received a Quilt of Valor during Sunday services at Thornton Heights United Methodist Church on Sunday, February 20.
Nason was nominated to receive the Quilts of Valor Foundation quilt by Gorham resident Kathy Lavigne, the volunteer leader of the V2VME Caregiver Support Network. Nason’s wife, Sally Nason, is a member of the Network.
Quilts of Valor is a national organization that employs volunteers to create quilts for veterans. Lavigne learned about Quilts of Valor Foundation from Gorham resident Donna Brookings, the Maine State Coordinator for the organization, and then asked friends Ed and Kathy Dyson of Hollis Center to create the quilt for Nason. The quilts are made to the exacting standards of the Foundation and are designed to endure many commercial washings.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Vet to Vet MaineVietnam veteran John Nason, a member of Vet to Vet Maine, was honored on February 20, 2022, with a Quilt of Valor. He was joined by his Vet to Vet Maine volunteer peer companion Richard Robichaud of Westbrook; his wife, Sally Nason; Donna Brooking of Gorham, Maine State Coordinator of Quilts of Valor; and Kathy Lavigne of Gorham, leader of the Vet to Vet Maine Caregiver Support Network. (L-R: Richard Robichaud, Sally Nason, John Nason, Donna Brookings, Kathy Lavigne)
Nason became a V2VME veteran friend after a 2017 stroke left him a quadriplegic. The organization matched him with Richard Robichaud of Westbrook in December of that year. Robichaud, a trained veteran peer companion, has been a faithful friend visiting and calling Nason since the two met more than four years ago.
A second V2VME peer companion, James Inglis of Scarborough, also visits Nason. V2VME now serves the needs of veterans statewide through peer companions and phone pals.
Sally Nason credits V2VME volunteers with keeping John’s spirits up, saying, “Both peer visitors have been terrific.” She is also grateful for the work of Kathy Lavigne who plans quarterly programs for the caregivers of veterans enrolled in V2VME and sends cards and notes to let them know they are not forgotten.
For more information about how V2VME can make a difference in the life of a veteran, contact V2VME Program Director and Gorham resident Judie Alessi O’Malley at 207-579-4024. For more information about Quilts of Valor Foundation, contact Donna Brookings at 207-523-9322.