Quilts = Healing for our military men and women who have so bravely served our country. Vernice Engelken, a long time Dodge Center resident, told me about the Quilts of Valor last year, and invited me to come to the ceremony to see what an impact the gifting of a quilt could mean to those who were in combat throughout the wars waged. Unfortunately I was not in Minnesota when the ceremony took place, so this year I feel honored that she asked me to do a "call for nominees" for this year's ceremony.
Saturday, October 5th at 12 pm, the Quilts of Valor committee will be hosting the ceremony for those nominees at the Dodge Center American Legion. What the committee is asking is that if you are, or know of a veteran who has served in any capacity, please send your nomination to Vernice at 215 1st Avenue Circle, Dodge Center Mn 55927, or give her a call at (507) 374-2163. The committee will review the nomination, and a quilt will be set aside for the person being honored. Last year 16 men were honored and gifted. Before the quilt is given, each person is introduced and the branch they served in and the dates of service are announced.
I would like to share the beginning of the idea, which started as a dream, literally. Founder Catherine Roberts' son was deployed in Iraq in 2003. She had a dream of a young man, sitting on the side of his bed in the middle of the night, hunched over in utter despair. She said she could see his war demons clustered around, dragging him down into an emotional gutter. Then, as if in a movie, she saw him in the next scene, wrapped in a quilt. His whole demeanor changed from one of despair into one of hope and well being. The quilt had made this dramatic change.
The first quilt was awarded to a young soldier from Minnesota who lost his leg in Iraq in November of 2003. In 2014, a milestone was reached when 100,000 quilts had been gifted to our military men and women! In 2019 over a quarter of a million quilts had been given. Volunteers spend a lot of time and money making these special quilts, and not one is the same. The goal was to reach 500,000 quilts by the 20th anniversary of the first quilt in 2023.
A few of the comments from the recipients over the years are as follows.
"My quilt isn't another military medal to be placed in a box and sit on my shelf. I was moved to tears."
" I never expected to have the hurt I have been carrying to be so miraculously softened."
As you can see, these are more than just a blanket for the bed. They represent the love and care we have for our returning veterans, and are a way to literally wrap them in comfort to thank them for their service. To learn more about this organization, or to volunteer in whatever capacity you can, or to donate to the organization so they can keep up this inspiring tradition, go to www.QOVF.org/nomination- awards and learn more!
