Three generations of veterans honored in Mansfield

MANSFIELD — Three veterans whose military service spans more than five decades and three generations were honored during a Quilts of Valor ceremony Feb. 21 at Mansfield United Protestant Church.

Ann Cooper and Jo Miller, members of the Quilts of Valor Foundation and the Lake Chelan Quilts of Valor group, presented the quilts during a ceremony recognizing Lee Hanford, Rod Cool and Mark Cooper.

The Quilts of Valor Foundation, founded in 2003, awards handmade quilts to service members and veterans who have been touched by war. Since its founding, more than 437,000 quilts have been awarded nationwide.

Ann Cooper opened the ceremony by sharing the history and scope of the organization’s work. The foundation includes 655 volunteer groups and more than 11,000 members across the country. In Washington state alone, 26 groups with more than 600 volunteers awarded more than 1,300 quilts last year.

The Lake Chelan Quilts of Valor group has awarded more than 35 quilts since forming three years ago.

Cooper noted that the quilts represent the work and generosity of volunteers who donate their time and cover the cost of materials themselves.

“Our quilts are awarded, not just handed out,” she said. “A Quilt of Valor is not a charity quilt, and it is not a blanket. This Quilt of Valor unequivocally says thank you for your service and sacrifice in defense of our nation.”

During the ceremony, Jo Miller also presented Lee Hanford with a Vietnam Veteran lapel pin, acknowledging the lack of recognition many Vietnam veterans received upon returning home.

“Vietnam veterans returned home to a nation in turmoil, and most received no recognition for their service or a welcome home,” Miller said. “Today we commit to every effort to right that wrong for Lee James and all the other Vietnam veterans.”

Following the presentation, Cooper introduced each veteran and shared highlights from their service.

Hanford was born at the Brewster hospital and grew up in Bridgeport. He graduated from Bridgeport High School in June 1970 and received a draft notice in early 1971, entering the U.S. Army that May.

He completed basic training at Fort Lewis before traveling to Texas for medic training. After earning his medic qualification, Hanford was assigned to Fort Stewart, Georgia, then the largest Army installation east of the Mississippi River.

While stationed there, he served on medical evacuation helicopters, working with UH-1 “Huey” aircraft widely used for training and medical evacuation during the Vietnam era.

Hanford received an honorable discharge in July 1972 and returned to Bridgeport, where he joined his father on the family’s 2,500-acre wheat and cattle ranch. After his father’s death, he took over operation of the ranch and continued running it until retiring in 2017.

In retirement, Hanford said he now enjoys having time to read. Reflecting on the quilt presentation, he expressed appreciation for the recognition.

“It means a lot,” he said.

Rod Cool, a Chelan native, graduated from Chelan High School in 1982. His decision to join the U.S. Army was influenced by a long family tradition of military service.

“My grandfather served in World War I, my dad and an uncle in World War II, three uncles in Korea, and an uncle and two cousins in Vietnam, in the Army, Navy, and Marines,” Cool said. “That tradition of service is why I joined.”

Cool began his Army service Jan. 8, 1982, with the U.S. Army Reserve’s 171st Training Brigade, C Company, based at the Reserve Center in Yakima. During his six years in uniform, he trained and served as a drill sergeant, helping prepare new soldiers for military service.

He received an honorable discharge Jan. 8, 1988.

After leaving the military, Cool spent 38 years teaching high school agriculture and serving as an FFA adviser at several schools, including Selkirk, Zillah, Wenatchee, Chelan and Quincy. He retired in June 2025 after a career focused on mentorship and agricultural education.

He now works with the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Division as a brand inspector, conducting ownership inspections of cattle and horses at markets, feedlots and other facilities across the region.

Cool also remains active in the agricultural community, judging livestock at fairs and junior shows throughout the Northwest and spending time fly fishing when he can.

Mark Cooper represents the newest generation of veterans honored during the ceremony.

Born at Lake Chelan Hospital, he grew up in Bridgeport before later settling in Chelan. He graduated from Chelan High School in 2004 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy just months later.

“I made the decision to join the Navy to serve my country, and I wanted the experience and the chance to see the world,” Cooper said.

During his service from 2004 to 2010, Cooper was assigned to the USS Nassau (LHA-4), a Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship based in Norfolk, Virginia. While aboard the ship, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving in the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.

He later deployed with the 7th Fleet Mobile Reconnaissance Activity under U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, supporting submarine reconnaissance missions in the Pacific and Indian oceans and land-based reconnaissance for Operation Enduring Freedom.

Following his sea tours, Cooper served shore duty at Fleet Readiness Center Northwest on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island as an aviation machinist. In that role, he specialized in the overhaul and rebuilding of T-56 engines used in P-3 Orion aircraft.

Cooper received an honorable discharge May 10, 2010, as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate Petty Officer Third Class.

Over the course of his service, he visited 14 countries across six continents.

Today, Cooper lives in Spanaway and works as a senior calibration specialist and pyrometry lead in metrology and test equipment services for Boeing in Auburn.

Outside of work, he enjoys cooking, smoking meat, fishing, hunting and exploring new places.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of quilts to each veteran, recognizing their service and sacrifice.

For Cooper and Miller, the presentations reflect the deeper purpose of the Quilts of Valor program — acknowledging service members and ensuring their stories are remembered.

For more information about the Lake Chelan Quilts of Valor group, contact group leader Sue Freden at lakechelanqov@gmail.com. The group meets the first Thursday of each month at 3:30 p.m. at the Chelan Fire Station.

Norm Manly contributed to this report.