For Darlene Kelly, celebrating her son helps a small part of her heart find healing.

“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t miss him,” the Portsmouth resident said. “I miss him so much.”

Kelly’s son, Shawn Duncan, was killed in action while serving in Iraq.

To honor Kelly’s son and present her with a token of appreciation, the Tidewater Quilters’ Guild recently presented its 1,000th Quilt of Valor at the Kempsville store, What’s Your Stitch ‘n Stuff.

“Think of this like your son wrapping his arms around you,” said Susan Long, who made the quilt. “It’s all our arms around you.”

Duncan was an Army scout on patrol on Feb. 27, 2007, when he and two others were killed by an IED, or improvised explosive device. Two others were severely injured.  “It was his dream to be in the military,” his mother said. “He died doing what he loved. I can’t take that away from him.”

Long, of Kemps Shire, made the quilt complete with an American flag at the center and a photo of Kelly’s son on the back along with an inscription of remembrance in the corner.

In addition to being the guild’s 1000th quilt, the 54 inch by 74 inch quilt is the only one to stay with a local family. The other 999 were sent to Germany, where wounded soldiers are treated for war wounds.

“A quilt gives the soldiers a feeling of comfort and home,” said Mary LynnSlough, coordinator of the local Quilts of Valor effort for the Tidewater Quilters’ Guild. “The soldiers know someone made this for them and it helps them feel appreciated and loved.”

The guild, which has 385 members across Hampton Roads, meets at various locations to volunteer and make the quilts. Members rely on donations of money, batting, boxes and postage to get the quilts to the soldiers. It takes about $125 to create a quilt from start to finish and get it to the soldier overseas.

“We want to show we care about those soldiers who are putting everything on the line to protect freedom,” Slough said. “We will make these quilts as long as we have men and women in harm’s way and need a reminder of home.”

For Kelly, the quilt will 

be another way she can celebrate the life of her son.

“He was really tall so when he hugged me, he had to lean over to get his arms around me,” she said. “When I use this quilt, I will think of how I loved it when he would bend over to give me big hugs.”

Kelly said she plans to put the quilt on display at her house, but doesn’t know if that will be on a wall or on a couch.

“I can’t just tuck thisaway,” she said. “I want to have it out where everyone can see it.”

By the end of the quilt presentation, there wasn’t a dry eye in the sewing room.

“We just don’t know what some families go through,” said Laurie Clinton, of Norfolk, who was making a quilt to donate. “At least we can do something to help support our troops.”

Staci Dennis, sdennis@cox.net Laurie Clinton of Norfolk puts the finishing touches on a quilt that will be donated to Quilts of Valor.

Susan Long, left, made the 1,000th quilt for Quilts of Valor, which was presented to Darlene Kelly. Kelly’s son, Shawn Duncan, was killed in action while serving in Iraq.

Darlene Kelly displays the quilt with her son’s image. “Think of this like your son wrapping his arms around you,” said Susan Long, who made the quilt. “It’s all our arms around you.”