Following a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic, two Farmersville Army veterans, along with veterans from four other communities, were thanked for their service with the gift of handmade quilts last week.
Quilts of Valor were draped over the six veterans by Farmersville Quilt Guild members in a special ceremony Tuesday, Nov. 8 at the Faith Family Church in Nevada.
The American Legion Hale-Combest Post 315 Honor Guard presented the colors and Quilt Guild president Kathy Wingo welcomed veterans, family and friends in attendance.
At the event, Farmersville resident Everett Wingo, retired U.S. Army Capt., received his quilt from his wife, Kathy. Everett designed and embroidered his quilt, and it was made by Kathy.
Brian Bailey, also a Farmersville resident, received his quilt from Areva Lugrand. The quilt was made by Donna Burns.
Other veterans honored included Brittany Andrews, Army – Nevada, Robert Crane, Marines – Caddo Mills, Eddie Lee Romines, Air Force – Fate and John Bangs, Air Force – Prosper.
Sandy Fisher made and presented Andrews’ quilt, Debi Paustain made and presented Crane’s quilt, Karen Smith made and presented Romines’ quilt and Yvonne Knight made and presented Bangs’ quilt.
Quilts of Valor (QOV) are handmade quilts that are machine or hand quilted and gifted to service members or veterans who have been touched by war. The quilts are made free-of-charge using specific standards set forth by the Quilts of Valor Foundation.
Since its inception in 2003, the QOV Foundation has grown to over 10,000 volunteer members across 600 groups in all 50 states.
In April, the foundation presented its 300,000th quilt to a veteran in Ohio. Locally, more than 115 QOVs have been presented by the Farmersville Quilt Guild.
Anyone can visit the QOV website at qovf.org and nominate a veteran that has been touched by war to receive a Quilt of Valor.
Special requests can be granted if a veteran suffers from PTSD and would prefer a private presentation of their quilt, or their health is failing.
Quilts of Valor Coordinator Barb Welch said. “If there are no special requests, I will contact the veteran, and based on information I receive from them, I will determine if we can present the quilt in November at our special evening program.
Welch said during the pandemic they personally delivered and mailed a few quilts to older veterans as instructed by the foundation. At the Audie Murphy Day celebration in June, Welch said they gave three QOVs to veterans.
In addition to the quilt presentations, the Quilts of Valor Foundation has partnered with the Vietnam War Commemoration Program.
Welch said the program was created through the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act to honor all those who served during the Vietnam War.
“The commemoration extends from Memorial Day 2012 through Veterans Day 2025,” she said.
Three veterans, Romines, Bangs and Don Bridges, received Vietnam Veterans Lapel Pins at the ceremony.
The Farmersville Quilt Guild membership is open to anyone and currently has around 30 members who attend from Farmersville and the surrounding communities.
The guild meets the second Tuesday of each month at the O.E. Carlisle Civic Center. Visit farmersvillequiltguild.blogspot.com or email [email protected].
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