During their years of marriage, Betty Bean assured her Vietnam veteran husband, Thomas, that she would do whatever she could to honor veterans.
After her husband died in 2019, Bean carried on her husband’s request by creating and handing out cards, with an American flag star from one that was to be burned, and inscribed with the words, “I support those who protect and defend our freedom.”
She has handed out close to 1,500 cards in the past year, with 350 remaining. She has sent the cards as far away as West Virginia.
Bean, a member of the Devoted Quilters from the Oswayo Valley Center in Shinglehouse, also has made quilts for Wounded Warriors. She outlined how she started the card project. She personally hands out the cards to veterans gathered in different venues.
“I like to do it by myself (and provide a little history on the program) because I know how I want it done,” she explained. Bean noted that she travels to locations where veterans gather, such as local restaurants, to hand out the cards.
Bean began making the cards after meeting Bob Lauver, Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, from the Harrisburg Chapter, 656. Lauver showed her the cards that his military chapter had organized. Bean was impressed with the cards that were handed out to veterans and thought it would be a good program to conduct locally.
Mary Jones, director of the Oswayo Valley center, provided additional information about the program via a Facebook post.
“Upon returning home (Bean) met with Col. Ed Fisher from LEEK (Hunting and Mountain Preserve in Oswayo) and Mitch DeLong who was Commander at the time of the American Legion Post #530 to present this idea,” Jones recounted. She added, “Post #530 donated laminating sheets and the OV Center purchased the machine to laminate the cards.”
In addition, the Portville Legion has donated 10 flags along with 32 others from various organizations and people who heard about the program.
Bean said when she visits or meets veterans and enjoys sharing the cards and background information. She always carries some cards in her pocket. Stars on the cards are from old or weather-beaten flags that flew somewhere in the United States.
As for the program, Bean said the rewards are many.
“I can’t express the gratitude … the gratitude you see in their eyes,” she said after a long pause, explaining she gets emotional when speaking of the program. “They say it’s so rewarding to know that somebody cares. I cry a lot.”
Bean said she will continue with the program as long as possible and is hopeful that someone else might pick it up in the future.
Bean said she has plenty of flags, therefore doesn’t need more of the stars.
For more information on the program, contact the senior center at (814) 697-7178.
