Seven veterans were honored Tuesday with quilts during the Liberty Sewing Circle’s Threads of Valor presentation.
Those honored Tuesday were Mark Curry, Jerry Hogan, John Lee Koltz, William Lee Metz, Diana Price, Gary Lee Sturdevant and Larry McCullough.
Liberty Sewing Circle coordinator Marsha Huffman said this was the 19th time for the event.
In fall 2015, several local ladies started meeting at Warsaw’s VFW to make quilts for veterans in Kosciusko County in nursing homes and homeless shelters in Warsaw, Huffman said. A special request was made to the Liberty Sewing Circle to make a large quilt for a veteran in a nursing home to celebrate his 90th birthday. The circle’s vision grew with that by making standard-sized quilts for nominated veterans in Kosciusko County.
She said the group needed a time and place to meet. It was worked out the Circle could meet at the Senior Center. So far, 463 Threads of Valor quilts, of which 189 are full-sized, have been presented to veterans.
The quilts are given to local veterans to thank them for their service and sacrifices.
Huffman said there have been some nominated veterans “decline for various reasons.” Some of the reasons were to give the quilts to someone older or more deserving or the veteran never saw combat.
She asked veterans to remember they may not have seen battle, but they are no less important. One thing she reminded people is the homefront needed to be defended as well.
Huffman said the event was to honor the veterans, who left the comforts of home to serve the country, answering the call of duty to their nation. Many risked life and limb in the face of great dangers in service of the country, protecting the ideals of America of liberty, freedom and justice.
Huffman said the veterans hold similar qualities: courage, pride, determination and dedication to duty and integrity. All of those qualities are needed to serve a cause greater than themselves.
Darren Vogt, a representative for Sen. Jim Banks, read a letter from Banks, which stated the efforts to recognize local veterans were commendable. The country owes the veterans a debt it can not fully repay.
“Your service and sacrifice have safeguarded our freedoms, upheld our values, strengthened the very fabric of this country,” Vogt read from the letter. When the veterans received the quilts, he told the veterans to remember they’re more than a symbol of appreciation. They represent the warmth, the gratitude, the unwavering respect for the veterans.
“America remains the greatest nation on Earth because of men and women like you. Those who answer the call serve their country before self,” Vogt read from Bank’s letter.
Mayor Jeff Grose said they were gathered Tuesday to honor the veterans who served their country, “defending the freedoms we hold dear.” For the veterans no longer with us, Grose said “we send our deepest gratitude for your service, your sacrifices and you’re unwavering commitment to this great country.” He said events like Tuesday’s remind people freedom is not free.
Curry was in the Army and National Guard, serving from 1983 to 1991.
Hogan was in the Marines from 1973-79. He was in Vietnam. His longest station was in Lansing, Mich.
Klotz served in the Army from 1968-70. He was in a combat zone in Vietnam.
Metz served in the Navy during the Vietnam War.
Price was in the Army Reserves from 1992 to 2000 and her longest post was in Fort Wayne.
Sturdevant was in the Army from 1968-69 during the Vietnam War.
McCullough was in the Navy and was a 2nd class petty officer.