LARGO, Fla. — As the sacrifices of military members who died in service are honored, a unique organization helps transform the lives of veterans every single day. 

More than 350,000 pounds of old military parachutes, some dating back to WWII, are repurposed with a new purpose inside HeavenDropt.

“I’m in charge of the sewing department and it’s a dream come true,” said lead seamstress Bonnie Anderson.

Through HeavenDropt, military veterans with disabilities and individuals with developmental disabilities transform old military parachutes and gear into one-of-a-kind everyday common goods like bags, bracelets, dog bandanas and even hammocks.

HeavenDropt is a division of the non-profit Evergreen Life Services.

While Anderson heads up the sewing department, Robby Groover, a U.S. Army veteran, heads up the team.

“My military career was kind of cut short in 2014 from injuries sustained in 2012 from an IED on a mountain in Afghanistan,” he said.

Just how every parachute has a story, so do the veterans transforming them.

Groover devotes his time to helping both the veterans and the gear to serve new purposes.

In a way, it’s a form of therapy.

“I spent 9 years in the United State Marine Corps. I’m an Afghanistan and Iraq combat veteran,” said Beau Blouin with Key HR.

Blouin now spends his time working as a community partner for HeavenDropt.

“They allow people and veterans with disabilities that wouldn’t have a job, to have one now,” Blouin said.

Helping with this kind of work hits home for both Groover and Blouin, especially on Memorial Day weekend.

“It’s devastating when you lose someone you fought with, when you lose some you pal-ed around with, you smoked cigarettes with behind a berm, it’s what we as Americans take for granted,” said Groover.

“I did lose some friends overseas as well. So Memorial Day is a very important day for a lot of veterans, but specifically it’s a very important day for veterans and their families and for people who are no longer here. That’s why I support HeavenDropt,” Blouin said.

Along with adding more of a museum feel to their massive warehouse, Groover wants to see HeavenDropt continue to grow.

“I want to be one of the lead employment agencies for people with disabilities and veterans. I want to give very meaningful opportunities. I want to see HeavenDropt become that, that builds purpose in people’s lives,” he said.

Florida isn’t the only place where HeavenDropt is spreading the mission.

There are teams of veterans and individuals with disabilities hard at work in facilities in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas.