CL woman crochets flag blankets for veterans

BY Dawn Rankins

Pam Malcolmson holds one of her crocheted flag blankets she donates to veterans. Veteran’s Day is close to her heart and crocheting the blankets is her way of honoring those who have served their country.

Long-time Canyon Lake resident Pam Malcolmson decided months ago to show her support of veterans by crocheting American flag blankets to donate to them. Pam, who comes from a long line of military veterans, donates the blankets as her way of showing appreciation.

“Veterans Day is a special day,” Pam said. “I make the flag blankets to show my appreciation for the military and it’s my way to say thank you for their service.”

The military is close to Pam’s heart. Her father, Joseph Henderson, served in the US Navy during World War II. His story is one of honor and love for his country, Pam said. He was on the Sebastioan Cermeno, an American Steam Merchant Ship.

On December 7, 1941, while outside washing his car, he heard on the radio that Pearl Harbor had been attacked. He went into the house and told his wife what had happened and said, “Tomorrow, I’m going to enlist and go fight for this country.”

Pam Malcolmson has set up a table of honor in her Canyon Lake home to display military photos and awards. This photo of Pam as a child with her mother and father, Navy soldier Joseph Malcolmson. Photos by Dawn Rankins

While at sea, her father’s ship, which was a Merchant Marine transporting ship, was hit by two torpedoes and within 11 minutes had sunk. Her father spent 21 days out on the ocean on a life raft before being rescued by the Australian Military. There were 74 soldiers on board the ship that went down and 69 survived while five lost their lives.

Not only was her father a Navy veteran, but her husband, Harvey Malcolmson, served in the Army.

Her brother Gregory A’Lurede served in Vietnam in the Navy and her younger brother Philip A’Lurede served in the 82nd airborne. Two of her uncles served in the Army and another served in the Navy. Grandson Robert Briggs was an Army Reservist who served in Afghanistan.