Military bomb techs supported by quilters

Eight former and current Department of Defense employees are using their sewing skills to help a Panhandle charity for military bomb technicians.

Retired Department of Defense intelligence worker Anita Davis and seven of her former coworkers spent months creating a patriotic quilt that features the emblem worn by all military bomb technicians.

Their quilt is being sold in an online raffle to benefit the Niceville-based EOD Warrior Foundation, which supports military bomb technicians and their families.

Davis said the members of her Department of Defense sewing circle have a deep appreciation for the military’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians.

“We wanted to do something to support these people who are so crucial to our national defense,” Davis said.

Bomb technicians from all branches of the military are trained at the Navy’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal School at Eglin Air Force Base.

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The EOD Warrior Foundation helps current and former military bomb technicians and their families with things like unexpected medical costs, tuition expenses and financial help during family emergencies, Nicole Motsek, executive director of the foundation, said.

“We deeply appreciate every effort that is made to help raise funds and support our mission,” Motsek said. “Every bit of it is put to use to make a difference in the lives of our nation’s warriors and their families.”

The eight women began planning the quilt in October and coordinating their sewing efforts despite living in different states. Each of the sewers created separate quilt blocks. The quilters then worked together to bind and finish the quilt.

Davis said the women, who have been friends for years, plan an annual getaway to spend time together sewing.

“People might not think that the Department of Defense and quilting necessarily go together,” she laughed. “We are all defense intelligence people, but we have our hobbies just like anyone else.”

The women have made other quilts for charity. A quilt they made in 2015 raised $1,025 for the EOD Warrior Foundation during a charity auction. Davis said the group hopes to raise more money this year through the online raffle.

Raffles tickets are available for $10 each at http://bit.ly/298qUTh.

The raffle winner will be announced Aug. 1.