Quilts of Valor: a tangible token of appreciation

Three veterans were gifted handmade quilts as a token of appreciation from the Quilts of Valor Foundation. 
Quilter Martha Waddell of Northfield not only worked on the quilts herself, but she was able to wrap the finished quilt around the shoulders of the three veterans at the VFW Auxiliary meeting on Oct. 20. 
The name of the veteran recipient is stitched into each quilt, but it also has a label on the back with the name and hometown of the person who pieced the quilt and the quilter. The quilters that participate in quilts of valor are  volunteers. The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is “to cover service members touched by war with the comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.”
Each quilt reads: “May this quilt keep you safe from harm. May it be your good luck charm. I do not know your name, nor the mountains you face, but what you hold in your arms is a quilter’s embrace.” 
The quilts are also symbolic, as Waddell told the veterans and their families. 
Each quilt has three layers. “First, the top, which is made up of many pieces, colors and shapes. That represents the many communities that we are,” she said. “Second, the filling, which gives warmth and hope that this quilt will comfort you and keep you warm. Third, the backing that is the strength that supports the layers as you are the strength as well as the family and community that support you.” 
She also gave symbolism to the stitching. “And finally the stitching that holds the layers together that represent the love and gratitude that we have for you.” 
Earle Taylor from Elysian, Minnesota, was one of the quilt recipients. Taylor is a World War II veteran. He served in the 9th Division, 9th Signal Corp, in Germany. As he exited the VFW, he hugged his quilt closely. His family said that he was deeply moved by the gesture. 
“It means a lot to me what they did,” said Taylor. In fact, quilting has a special significance to Taylor, as he remembers that his grandparents made and sold quilts during the winter months. When his daughter Lynette Spurgin heard about Quilts of Valor Foundation, she immediately thought to sign her father up. 
Susan Branstad of Owatonna also thought about her father when she found out about the quilting project. Her father, Luverne Schlobohm of Owatonna, also received a quilt. He is a veteran of World War II. He served in the South Pacific as part of the Navy. 
Robert Dub of Owatonna also received a quilt. He served in Iraq with the Army. His wife signed him up with Quilts of Valor. 
Waddell has been quilting for over a year, but this was her first time presenting the quits. “It’s just being able to say thank you, thank you for your service,” she said. “It’s our way of doing something.” She was initially interested in quilting because her own father was a World War II veteran. 
Quilts of Valor began as a grass roots effort in 2003. Since then, more than 125,700 quilts made by more than 10,000 volunteers have been awarded to veterans touched by war. 
Anyone can sign a veteran up for a quilt. If interested, visit www.qovf.org. To request a quilt of valor for themselves or someone else, one has to fill out the application on the website. It is a single lifetime award.