By Joe Bachman

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — 12 veterans received the high honor of being gifted a quilt of valor on Wednesday.

Veterans on hand to receive a quilt of valor. (City Times Photo)

The non-profit organization’s mission is to cover military veterans and personnel with healing and comforting quilts, made by local quilters. The organization began in 2003, founded by Catherine Roberts, who had a dream where a young man had been surrounded by war demons. This young man’s demeanor of despair changed into one of hope when he was wrapped in a quilt.

“The quilts that we’re going to be giving today were made by members of the community,” said Caroline Carr in reference to Wisconsin Rapids Material Girls, who made the quilts. “Not just through the Material Girls, but also from donations from members of this community.”

Veterans who received a quilt of valor are as follows:

Veteran Al Baum being wrapped up by a quilt of valor by members of the Material Girls. (City Times Photo)

Richard Ashenbrener, Army, Korea
Al Baum, Navy, Korea
Joe Bauman, Army, Other
Don Durst, Army, WWII
Henry Gemza, Navy, WWII
Stanley Jankowski, Army, Korea
Robert Ladd, Navy, WWII
James Nickel, Army, Vietnam
Fred Parker Sr., Coast Guard, WWII
Dan Peters, Army, WWII
John Richay, Army, Korea
Russ Stimac, Army, Korea
Richard Thode, Army, Korea

“The thing that we like to think about with these quilts is that a basic quilt has three layers — the top of it has a lot of pieces and those pieces represent being part of the community, families, and businesses — all those things that go with a serviceman as he goes through his duties. The middle is what we call ‘batting’, and that’s the part that provides the warmth — the backing is all one piece, and that’s the piece that holds us together. It could be our country, a community, a county, a state — but all of these are tied together with stitches.”