‘Covering the Blue’

Area woman seeks help with effort launched to crochet and send lap covers to wounded police, corrections officers

BURGETTSTOWN -- When Diane Baughman Huggins was growing up, she loved going to parades.

"I was in awe of the police cars, fire trucks and ambulances," said the Burgettstown area woman who, as a young girl, appreciated Superman because he always saved the day.

"As a grown woman now, I have faced heartache of my own, and again, the police were there to save the day, though it didn't seem like it at the time. They truly did save the day, being my life," she noted in explaining some of her motivation for organizing an effort called Covering the Blue.

Huggins launched the project through a Facebook page of the same name, all with the express purpose of recruiting help in crocheting black afghan lap covers made with a royal blue stripe down the center. They are being provided to police officers and corrections officers wounded in the line of duty anywhere in the United States to honor and show support and appreciation for them, she said.

"The covers must be in line with the LEOS thin blue line," Huggins said, explaining that the phrase itself is synonymous with the police and law enforcement.

"We are seeking those who can crochet or sew. We need as much help as we can get so we can cover as many officers with our love and support," Huggins said. In addition to herself, Huggins has eight volunteers so far, including from Idaho, Minessota and Tennessee, but more are welcome. "I couldn't do this without them," she said. "They are truly angels on Earth."

Several covers already have been sent out, including one to a wounded officer in Pomona, Calif., with two earmarked to go to New York, two to Clinton, Mo., and two covers to Idaho.

The letter accompanying the afghan reads: "Our group wishes to send you prayers for a speedy recovery. We are very sorry to hear of your injuries! We not only back the blue, we cover the blue with our support and love, with our thin blue line covers! May God be with you and all those who serve to keep us safe! Every one of our officers is truly superman heroes to us! Hope this cover gives you comfort in knowing that there are many of us out there who support our law enforcement."

"For anyone that likes to crochet, you are welcome to join," Huggins noted, adding financial help is sought as well.

Huggins said she met with the Jefferson Township Historical Society in the Eldersville, Pa., area, a group in which she is active, to enlist its assistance.

"They approved my work and accepted that donations can be made to JTHS-Covering the Blue, and I can use their tax ID number to help get donations and supplies that we desperately need for this work," Huggins said.

"We are in desperate need of Red Heart Super Saver Jumbo yarn in royal blue and black so that we can make the thin blue line lap afghans," she explained. "We are in need of monetary donations for help in mailing these covers to the wounded officers where ever in this country they may be," she continued.

Checks can be made out to JTHS-Covering the Blue and mailed to the Jefferson Township Historical Society, Box 383, Burgettstown, PA 15021.

"This assures that the money is going into a safe place and will be used for postage and materials to keep us working to cover wounded officers with our support and love," Huggins said. "I get my information on officers wounded and down on Anthony Gangi's (Facebook) page and retired Lt. Randy Sutton's Facebook page. They both cover officers that are wounded or have been killed. I admire them both very much," she said, explaining that Gangi is the host of Tier Talk/Correctionsone. "Tier Talk is the only radio show that is for corrections, by corrections," she explained. Sutton retired from the Las Vegas Police Department after 33 years of service, and according to his Facebook page, "frequently appears in the national spotlight to defend the rights of nearly 1 million active American police officers under attack by the mainstream media today." It notes that he also "works to improve the lives of those serving behind the badge."

Both have expressed support and encouragement for Covering the Blue, according to Huggins.

"With each end of watch, my heart truly breaks for those families, for the officers who were just doing their jobs to protect us," Huggins said of her reaction to learning an officer has been wounded in the line of duty.

"They were trying so hard to make this world a better place in which we live. To me they are the Superman that I loved as a kid. They have great strength, but like Superman, instead of worrying about kryptonite to take their lives, our officers have to face those who wish to harm and kill them," she noted.

"No matter what circumstances they have to face, our officers are out there every day, every night fighting so that good can prevail," she added.

"This is important and something dear to my heart," Huggins said. "Every time I see a post of a fallen officer, I literally cry. We need them. There are good officers out there working to protect us. I don't know if I'd be here without an officer."

"I would like to see this go nationwide. We are working as fast as we can, but we do need donations of yarn and monetary donations for shipping these covers," she said.

For information on the project, visit the Facebook page or contact Huggins by e-mail at dhuggins2@verizon.net or by phone at (724) 947-9782.

(Kiaski can be contacted at jkiaski@heraldstaronline.com.)