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Quilts of Valor honors nine local veterans at Verona Senior Center ceremony
Summary
Volunteers from the Quilts of Valor program presented 11 quilts (9 veterans in person) at the Verona Senior Center on Veterans Day; the ceremony included readings of service biographies for recipients and remarks about the program’s national reach.
Volunteers from the Quilts of Valor program presented quilts to veterans at a Veterans Day ceremony at the Verona Senior Center, honoring service, sacrifice and community contributions.
A program representative explained the group's origin with founder Catherine Roberts and described the quilts as a civilian equivalent of a Purple Heart. The presenter said Quilts of Valor now includes over 11,000 volunteer quilters and that more than 437,000 quilts have been awarded across the United States and in locations including Germany, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The presenter said 11 quilts would be awarded at the event (nine veterans present in person). Individual presentations included readings of service biographies for Richard Hanson (US Army Air Corps, World War II and later National Guard service), Ronald Cook (US Air Force, Vietnam-era medical lab tech), Christopher Davis (West Point graduate and longtime Army officer; absent, with his daughter accepting), Curtis Lawrence (Navy machinist's mate, Gulf War-era service), Don Lawrence (Air Force, Cuban Missile Crisis-era service), Thomas Monroe (Navy, 1964–1968), Steve Schmieding (Navy, 1970–1976), John Volker (Army communications technician and local civic participant), James Wanner (Army Security Agency and longtime community fundraiser), Richard Orla (Navy damage-controlman aboard USS Intrepid) and Clark Weidman (Marine Corps; previously presented because he had to leave early).
"This quilt of valor unequivocally says thank you for your service, sacrifice, and valor in serving our nation," the presenter said during the ceremony. Recipients were wrapped in their quilts onstage while presenters read biographies and, where applicable, family members accepted on behalf of absent veterans.
Organizers asked veterans to remain onstage until the end for a group photo and encouraged recipients to use the quilts for warmth and comfort. The ceremony closed with thanks to veterans and a final "welcome home."
