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Army Vet Mom Makes Bracelets From Old Uniforms To Support Military Families

Army Vet Mom Makes Bracelets From Old Uniforms To Support Military Families
Cameron Keady
By 

Associate Editor for Good News at The Huffington Post.

An army veteran is honoring the nation's armed forces by wearing her heart on her wrist.

Elsa Zarate, a military mom and veteran, is making bracelets out of old uniforms to honor the country’s armed forces. Called Bands4Courage, her business supports troops and donates part of its sales to support military members and their families, Today.com reported.

"I started brainstorming and realized, 'What better way to honor the uniform as well as the men and women who wear it?” Zarate told the news outlet.

bands courage

The project began as a way for Zarate, who lives in Boise, Idaho, to feel closer to her son -- a Marine -- when he was deployed overseas. She used one of his uniforms to make a wearable band, telling KTVB, "I just wanted something to remind me of him, to feel that connection."

Zarate’s idea resonated with other people, and she soon launched a website for the bands, and began receiving special requests and uniform donations. Each bracelet, which ranges from $5-$15, comes with a certificate with information about the person who wore it, KTVB reported. Zarate told the news outlet a family once sent her the uniform of their son who died in Afghanistan.

bands courage

According to Today.com, Zarate donates 50 percent of Bands4Courage sales to organizations that help military families. Her designs, many of which are custom orders, represent every military branch.

"The whole mission is to give back and to help out,” she told Today.com. “It's to create a connection between military members and the people who will honor their sacrifices.”

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