Sixteen U.S. military veterans were thanked and honored for their service to our country as each one was wrapped with a Quilt of Valor at Trinity Village in Papillion on November 12, 2023.
An audience of 200 family and friends felt a sense of pride for the veterans as they were honored for their dedicated service to our country.
The 16 veterans were members from the five U.S. military branches of service and served during the Korean, Vietnam, and War on Terror eras. Their duty bases included Korea, Vietnam, Europe, the Caribbean Islands, the Pacific Islands, and the United States. Their service and sacrifices to our country ensure the freedoms we enjoy today.
Pastor Linda Walz started the Quilts of Valor Award ceremony with a prayer. Trinity resident Mona Mueller, the program's emcee, guided the Quilts of Valor award ceremony. QOV volunteers, family members, and Trinity staff wrapped each veteran with a heartwarming Quilt of Valor.
The awarding of Quilts of Valor is a heartfelt way to thank them for their service, says Phyllis Schoenholz, Quilts of Valor volunteer for Piecemakers QOV Sewing Group.
Schoenholz explained the history of the Quilts of Valor Foundation and quoted the foundation's mission, "To cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor."
The year-long process of making the 16 Quilts of Valor was completed by Trinity Village hairdresser Jackie Mach and Trinity Village residents Ann Fraser, Ruth Hemphill, the late Ruby Hinrichs, and Mona Mueller. Mach, a Piecemakers QOV member, acquired most of the fabric for quilt-making. These women also facilitated the awarding of their creations to deserving veterans.
Quilts of Valor is a volunteer organization founded by Catherine Roberts. Today, this national foundation has over 10,000 members and 600 sewing groups who make heartwarming quilts to honor our American heroes. Since the beginning in 2003, over 362,564 Quilts of Valor have been wrapped around U.S. active-duty military and veterans to thank them for their service. This effort has become so popular that Australia, Canada, Great Britain, and Korea are now awarding quilts to their military personnel and veterans.
The afternoon celebration ended with a light lunch facilitated by Trinity Life Enrichment Manager Cindy Allen.
