Lifestyles

Quilt Keeps Memories Alive

Posted: 12/8/2011

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(NAPSI)—Visitors to Washington line up every day to pay tribute to veterans of World War II, Vietnam, Korea and the Civil War. But there is no memorial to commemorate the sacrifices made by nuclear weapons workers and uranium miners during the Cold War. Their work was done in top secret facilities, so their service is largely unknown or forgotten.

A nonprofit organization called Cold War Patriots hopes to change that. The group is organizing friends and family around the country to create a mobile quilt project to honor the service these forgotten Cold War veterans gave to their country. The quilt will tour the country and be displayed everywhere from community centers and museums to the halls of Congress. Eventually, the U.S. Department of Energy will include the quilt with other memorabilia in a time capsule to help future generations understand the Cold War.

The government estimates that between World War II and the end of the Cold War, around 700,000 people worked in 350 facilities located in 43 states. In 1945 alone, there were 132,000 people working on the Manhattan Project to develop the first atomic bomb. In most cases, these facilities were so secretive that even family members did not know what the workers were doing.

“Unfortunately, many of them never realized just what a sacrifice they made for their country until they developed cancer and other illnesses from exposure to radiation and toxic chemicals,” said Greg Austin of Cold War Patriots.

The quilt project is just one of the ways that Cold War Patriots hopes to help nuclear weapons workers and their families. Each year on October 30, the group organizes events around the country to commemorate a National Day of Remembrance, which is annually designated with a unanimous resolution passed by the United States Senate.

The good news is that workers who fell ill and their family members can apply for assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor. If you or someone you know worked in one of these facilities, here is what you should know:

• Compensation is available to help you cover medical bills;

• Resource centers can help you file a claim to get the benefits you are entitled to;

• Cold War Patriots can assist you and answer your questions.

For more information, contact Cold War Patriots at (888) 903-8989 or visit www.coldwarpatriots.org.

Note to Editors: The United States Senate designated October 30 as a National Day of Remembrance honoring Cold War nuclear weapons workers and uranium miners for their service to their country.

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