On June 19, family and friends gathered at Shepherd of the Prairie Church in Huntley to honor the veterans who served our country by presenting them with a custom quilt.
Each stitch on the quilts is a labor of love completed by the women in The Quilts of Valor to show appreciation and gratitude to veterans serving the United States of America.
Joan Ausbury, Sun City resident and quilter, said, “Our quilters work year-round to produce beautiful quilts. Each one is different, either by pattern or choice of fabrics. All fabrics and batting are purchased from donations from the public and with an annual donation from our Gazebo Quilt Guild. Today we have about 30 women actively involved in producing the quilts.”
Beverly Kenny, another quilter said, “We have a woman who prepares kits to make a top. Members will take a kit home, make the top, and return it for further processing. Another group will cut batting and backing for the top and turn it over to a longarm for quilting. When it is finished being quilted, another group of ladies will hand bind the quilt. The final step is adding a Valor label containing the name of the piecer, the name of the quilter, and eventually the name of the recipient with the date of the presentation.”
Judy Manke, a member of the quilt guild, makes beautiful stars made from leftover pieces of material. She presents them to guests at the presentation. Manke said, “Wear it on the 4th.
Celebrate our flag.”
The ceremony began with a color guard presentation. Then each veteran was individually honored and wrapped in his or her quilt.
Sun City residents Margie and Bob Baptiste attended the ceremony and saw their son, Brad Batiste, wrapped in a valor quilt. Margie said, “He was in the Navy, on the U.S.S. Esteem during the Gulf War in Operation Desert Storm. He was so touched by the sincerity of all the people involved in Valor Quilts. He enjoyed talking to the other vets and will always remember this day. He also loved the cookies.”
Helen Langer, another quilter, baked and packaged the cookies with a patriotic theme for each veteran.
Larry Dieden was in the hospital and was unable to attend, but Sun City resident Gene Dieden accepted the quilt for his brother. Dieden’s wife, Bobbie said, “Larry served in Vietnam as a marine gunner for 18 months. In addition to receiving two Purple Hearts, his life was saved by a Vietnamese man who pulled him by his hair out of the water when he was drowning and was helped by others before he could return to his unit. While it was hell, he is proud of his service to our country.”
Each veteran, in turn, accepted the quilt, the women wrapped them in the quilt and asked only for a hug in payment.
Applications are available by emailing a request to Jan Snyder (snyderjan@hotmail.com), or Joan Ausbury (joanie91225@sbcglobal.net).
