Members of the U.S.
Armed Forces sometimes don’t think of themselves as veterans unless they’ve seen combat, said Dickens County 4-H volunteer leader Ronda Dalton during a recent visit to the newspaper office. But the project that 4-H clubs statewide are currently participating in honors all service members, she said, as she gently pulled bright redwhite- and-blue-patterned fabric rectangles from the box she’d brought in.
The quilt blocks—pieced to consistent dimensions so that youngsters can readily assemble and bind them in their local clubs—had been contributed by quilters from all over, after Dalton put out the call.
The Dickens County 4-H’ers have been accepting applications from living veterans who would like to receive one of these very special, finished quilts. And they’ve been eagerly learning to sew, said Dalton. With the help of a grant, the club recently purchased multiple identical sewing machines.
“Older people come and sit with the kids while they’re sewing,” said Dalton. “And the Quilt of Valor program lets these veterans know just now much their service is appreciated.”
For its statewide initiative in Texas, Texas A&M AgriLife held a sewing day back in September.
Finished quits are expected to be presented to veterans next May.
The nationwide Quilts of Valor Foundation describes its mission on the organization’s website: “to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.”
The program is “a nationwide initiative that brings people together to create handcrafted quilts specially designed for our courageous veterans and active-duty military members. These quilts are heartfelt expressions of appreciation and love, symbolizing the deep respect we have for those who have selflessly served our country,” according to the Texas project’s Facebook page.
To read more, visit www. qovf.org.
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