Erlinda Alvarez was born in 1930 in a rock house in a small eastern New Mexico town that no longer exists. Over the past 83 years, Alvarez has seen changes in the world most of us only read about in history books. In that time, Alvarez has had a family member serve in every major American conflict. These include her grandfather in WWI, her father in WWII, her husband in Korea, three sons in Vietnam and a son and a grandson in the Gulf War and Iraq.
With twelve children to care for, Alvarez said she felt the desire to support those defending the country and those who have come back, especially those who have sustained injuries. Thomas Alvarez, Erlinda’s husband, lost his legs in the Korean War, leaving him in a wheelchair. Erlinda Alvarez said that she learned what it meant to someone in a wheelchair to be comfortable. She said she had found her calling and began quilting blankets.
Putting thread to needle, Alvarez quilted, crocheted and sewed blankets for her husband, her children and for veterans coming back from war. When Thomas passed away in 1966, Alvarez joined the Military Order of the Purple Heart Bataan Chapter, an organization dedicated to providing service to all veterans and their families.
Alvarez began donating her blankets to veterans coming back from the Iraq War in early 2004.
On January 13, 2012, Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry commended Alvarez during a ceremony for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Alvarez was recognized for her support of the troops, and the creation of a quilt she made for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Toys for Tots collects donations of Christmas gifts for needy children in the community.
Alvarez has continued to quilt blankets for returning veterans, and anyone else she finds who is need of a comfortable and warm blanket.
“Sewing blankets keeps me young, although I need my glasses to thread the needle now, I will always make blankets as long as I am able,” Alvarez said.
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PHOTO STORY: Albuquerque provides habitat for hundreds of bird species
December 2Albuquerque offers a wide range of bird habitat over a relatively small space. The Bosque ecosystem is home to riparian species, while the city provides habitat for more adaptive urban birds, and the Sandia Mountains provide a home to higher elevation species. Hundreds of resident and migratory birds settle in Albuquerque, according to the City of Albuquerque website. Albuquerque is one of 31 Urban Bird Treaty cities across the United States. UBT cities partner with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conserve birds and bird habitat, as well as provide educational and recreational opportunities in urban areas, according to the FWS website. The FWS highlights the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge as one of Albuquerque’s successes in bird conservation. The refuge is considered to be one of the “most ambitious urban conservation projects in the nation,” according to the FWS. In addition to Valle de Oro, birds can choose from many open spaces in Albuquerque that provide habitat, including the Bachechi Open Space, Rio Grande Nature Center State Park and even the University of New Mexico’s campus. The Bachechi Open Space is one of 17 Bernalillo County Open Space properties, according to the Bernalillo County website. The space offers wetland habitat, which attracts geese, ducks and herons. The Rio Grande Nature Center State Park provides habitat for over 300 species of birds, according to its website. During this time of year, sandhill cranes find food in the fields, and spotted towhee and duck species gather by feeders at the pond. UNM’s main campus hosts a total of 212 species of birds at different times throughout the year, according to Birding Hotspots. Even with the current Duck Pond renovation, trees and green space provide habitat for robins and roadrunners. Leila Chapa is the social media editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at socialmedia@dailylobo.com or on X @lchapa06 Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on X @paloma_chapa88
