Quilts of Valor presented during Veterans Day program at Kee High School ...

This past Veterans Day, Monday, November 11, the Eastern Allamakee Community School District hosted a celebration for local veterans at Kee High School in Lansing. In honor of their service and the service of all veterans, seven area residents were presented with Quilts of Valor during the program. Judy Schild, a Lansing quilter, gave a brief presentation about the significance of the Quilts of Valor program.

All those who received quilts were local area residents with the exception of Gary Gordon, who had traveled from Davenport to see his brother, Bill, receive his Quilt of Valor. When the quilters found out another veteran, Gary Gordon, was in attendance, they brought out another quilt to honor him as well. The quilts were made by Arlis Myhre, Eileen Smith and Judy Schild.

Pictured in the submitted photo above with their Quilts of Valor presented during the Veterans Days program are: Left to right - Front row: Terry Walleser, Air Force, 1970-1976; Sheila Ferrell, Army, 1987-1990; Scott Kaar, Navy, 1990-1997; Back row: Kevin Conway, Army, 1988-2008; Gary Gordon (Davenport, brother to Bill Gordon), Army; Ric Zarwell, Air Force, 1970-1973; Bill Gordon, Navy, 1965-1969.

Quilts of Valor is a nation-wide program which began in 2003 as an award from private citizens to honor those who have served in the U.S. military. During the first three years, 100 quilts were awarded. By 2018, 200,000 quilts had been awarded. This year, the 400,000th quilt was awarded. Veterans who have been “touched by war” are eligible for this Quilt of Valor award. All materials and labor are donated in creating the quilts.

According to the Quilts of Valor organization, the quilts represent a “welcome home” to all those who serve. Each quilt, which typically has a patriotic or personalized theme, has a label which states the recipient’s name, the maker’s name, and the date and place the quilt was awarded. The stitches are meant to symbolize the love, gratitude and tears of the maker, the batting symbolizes the warmth and comfort the quilt offers to the recipient, and the backing represents how the services hold all the pieces together. As each veteran is recognized for their service, they are wrapped in the quilt as a symbolic hug from a grateful nation.