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BAMBERG, Germany (March 12, 2012) -- For the past nine years,
women and men across the United States are covering those touched by
war.
Soldiers, who recently returned from deployment, sit with their
quilts during a Quilts of Valor ceremony at the Bamberg Chapel in
Germany, Feb. 29, 2012. During the ceremony, 33 Soldiers were
presented with quilts donated by The Beachlovin' Grannies of the
Carolinas. The Quilts of Valor foundation has donated more than
61,000 quilts to combat service members and veterans throughout the
world. Photo by Sina Kingsbury, USAREUR |
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The Quilts of Valor foundation, established by military mom
Catherine Roberts in 2003, has donated more than 61,000 quilts to
honor and comfort combat service members and veterans throughout the
world.
Community members and Bamberg Middle High School's
Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets presented 33 Soldiers
with quilts for their deployed service during a ceremony here at the
Bamberg Chapel Feb. 29.
"Any time an American chooses to put
on the fighting uniform of their nation, they make a choice," said
Chaplain (Capt.) Terri King during the ceremony. "They choose to lay
down some of their basic freedoms guaranteed under the constitution
to life, liberty and their own personal desires for happiness so
that others may enjoy them to the fullest."
"The men and
women here today represent |
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the best of our nation and QOV is living out their calling to love
us and remind us that we
truly did make a sacrifice to serve and that our Nation and our God
have not forgotten that service," King said. |
The quilts presented at the ceremony were made and
donated by a quilting guild out of South Carolina called The
Beachlovin' Grannies of the Carolinas.
"There are
roughly 24 active members," said Barbara Browd, a member of The Beachlovin' Grannies, in
an email.
While some members do piece work, sew
presentation cases or embroider, a few members contribute
without the help of a needle.
"We have a lady that
prints our cards that accompany every quilt that is given,"
Browd said. "We then have people that don't quilt or sew,
but love to iron."
"Basically, our quilts come from
many hearts and hands and we hope they show the love,
respect and appreciation that we have for our troops," she
said.
Today, The Beachlovin' Grannies of the
Carolinas have donated 638 quilts in the past seven years.
"We have sent our Quilts of Valor to many veterans
hospitals, including, Walter Reed (Washington, D.C), Womack
Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg (N.M.), White River
Veteran Hospital in Vermont and the Naval Hospital at Camp
Pendleton (Calif.) as well as The Wounded Warriors Battalion
at Camp LeJuene (N.C.)," Browd said. "More recently we have
been sending them to Liz and Mac Petty there in Bamberg."
"Together they have seen that our quilts have been given
to our wounded and war weary heroes there with our love,"
she said.
Browd said she has always had strong
patriotic feelings.
"Being involved with QOV is the
least I can do, since these young men and women are in
harm's way to protect our country," Browd said. "God Bless
America and those who have protected it. Thank you from the
bottom of my heart."
By Army Sina Kingsbury
Army News Service
Copyright 2012
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