Peotone Youth’s Pillows Bolster Manteno Vets
By Karen Haave
A Peotone youth with a unique talent has found a way to use it to make local military veterans a little more comfortable.
It also honors the veterans in his own family: his uncles, the late Glenn Ginder and Dale Cowger (U.S. Army) and Don Cravens (U.S. Marines), his grandfather Dennis Cowger, (U.S. Air Force), and great-grandfather Darald Cowger (Army).
Isolated during the pandemic, Logan Cowger took advantage of the quarantine to learn how to sew. After he mastered the skill, he started making pillows in patriotic patterns to be given to residents at Manteno Veterans Home.
“When COVID hit, all of our lives changed in one way or another.” his grandmother, Judy Hameister Cowger, explained.
“Some of us started cooking, baking, reading, and cleaning, but for kids, it was harder. Logan started making patriotic pillows.
“He has great respect for all the veterans and wanted to deliver the pillows to Manteno Veterans Home. There were continued outbreaks of COVID, but this summer, he was able to deliver them to the home and give them to the Veterans.”
The son of Nathan and Monica Cowger of rural Peotone, Logan has created 29 pillows so far, and wants to make more. He was inspired to learn to sew after watching his grandmother.
“When I was sewing, Logan would watch and wanted to learn. So, I let him start on a pillow, and he has continued. He has made a couple small stuffed animals for his brothers (Connor and Lincoln), too.”
He crafted the pillows using fabric and stuffing from his grandmother’s collection and her sewing machine.
“The veterans home was very appreciative,” Judy Cowger said, “And the veteran he gave the pillow to kept thanking him. He really liked it.”
Now 11 years old and a sixth-grader at Peotone Junior High, Logan has always talked about being a blacksmith someday. He loves Peotone Junior High, where he participates in soccer, wrestling, cross country, and taekwondo. He loves to read and play computer and board games.
“I am very proud of everything he tries,” his grandmother added.
Karen Haave is a freelance reporter.