By Lucky Kidd
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Friday’s monthly KS4 Vets luncheon meeting at Hutchinson Community College featured a presentation of Quilts of Valor to five Reno County Veterans.
The Quilts of Valor Foundation mission is “to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Value.” Lora Lagree of Valley Center, coordinator for the greater Wichita area including Reno, Harvey, Sedgwick, Butler and Cowley Counties, made the quilt presentations. Prior to the presentations, Lagree shared the stories of others who have received the quilts in the past.
“Some of them are pretty poignant, some are quite funny, and others won’t talk about it, or can’t because they were in too much security,” Lagree told Ad Astra News.
Each of the five recipients of Quilts of Valor shared stories of their service, all from the Vietnam war. Those included Jim Rider, Mike McJunkin and Scott Harwood of Hutchinson, David Abernathy of Plevna and Russell Dewater of South Hutchinson each shared stories of their military service, which ranged from front line infantry to driving a truck to reconnaissance activity.
Lagree said there are literally hundreds of people who are involved with making the quilts, each of which carries a unique theme. Some of these volunteers sew by machine, others by hand, and still more cut fabric, press and cut batting and backing.
The Wichita area group has people who meet regularly in Valley Center, Wichita and Winfield to work on quilts, and a group is in the process of being formed in the Hesston-Newton area. It also is assisting with formation of another group in Marysville.
Veterans are selected to receive quilts through nominations. Lagree said many come from the national organizations, others through local groups. When the national Quilts for Valor Foundation receives a nomination that is forwarded to local organizations wherever they may be.
If you would like to find out more about Quilts of Valor, you can contact Lora Lagree at 316-644-0438 or lagree_lc@yahoo.com, or the national website at qovf.org. The local group also will accept financial donations to pay for supplies used to make the quilts. Those can be sent to Quilts of Valor at P.O. Box 771452, Wichita, KS 67277-1452.
