But Sessler doesn’t think small. In the years since, Sessler has recruited her own small army of 900 knitters and crocheters who have made more than 40,000 knit beanies.
The beanies have been shipped to troops deployed around the world including Afghanistan, Iraq, Germany and South Korea. Volunteers, or beanie angels, as Sessler has dubbed them, from 23 different states have poured thousands of hours into the project.
Volunteer Dita Cernak has knitted more than 1,000 beanies for the organization. She says the gesture brings soldiers a little bit of home, which is sometimes a needed gesture in wartime. Sessler calls the beanies “unspoilable homemade cookies.”
Military personnel at home aren’t left out either. Operation Beanies also delivers beanies to bases like Camp Pendleton. They’ve delivered beanies to veterans at the VA Hospital in Long Beach for Christmas for the past few years.
Sessler said the real gift when they do that is to visit with sick and injured veterans. She told one story of an injured soldier who took two beanies — one for his head, another for his amputated leg. A beanie was the only gift another veteran got for Christmas.
The war in Iraq is controversial, but volunteers for Operation Beanies believe doing something for the troops is a cause anyone can get behind.
“We knit for the boys, we don’t knit for the war,” Beanie Angel Ginger Varin said.
There has been an outpouring of gratitude for Operation Beanies. Sessler has received volumes of thankful letters and e-mails from soldiers, military families and officers. She’s even received a note of gratitude from First Lady Laura Bush.
Even after all this, Sessler said her work is far from done.
She has the intention of providing every American service member a beanie.
Varin says that if anyone can do it, it’s Sessler.
“She believes in what she does,” Varin said. “And we believe in her.”
JOSH ADEN may be reached at (714) 966-4609 or at josh.aden@latimes.com.
