Boyd County Middle School Honoring Veterans with Quilts of ValorGideon ThompsonThe Ashland Beacon

Boyd County Middle School

Honoring Veterans with Quilts of Valor

Gideon Thompson

The Ashland Beacon

Beginning in 2003, Quilts of Valor has been working hard alongside volunteers nationwide in support of U.S. veterans. What started as a dream soon flourished into reality as founder Catherine Roberts sewed quilts for veterans. The premise of the quilts is for selected veterans to be presented with a quilt honoring their service while keeping them safe and warm as they embrace the care provided for them. The quilts are intended to be part of a group effort where one person or team may design and craft the top, then hand off the item to the next person or team, who then completes the assembly and sewing of the quilt. Bringing people closer together and showing care for those who have cared for them is a primary interest when considering Quilts of Valor.

Many of us have family members, friends, or acquaintances who have served in military branches all over the earth. We see them at home, in schools, and in our churches each time we visit. While we may tell our veterans how we feel about their sacrifices, a show of effort is well appreciated when the communities amass in recognition and appreciation for those who have served. Remembering the importance of military services and the lifelong commitments that come with it is important, as we are all here together once they come home. Separated from their families, friends, loved ones, and their daily lives, veterans return home with hopes of embracing the ones they have missed and moving on with their lives. The quilts presented with Quilts of Valor represent a long understanding of appreciation with the intent of returning the embrace with a lasting gift made with love. Each quilt is crafted especially for the veterans selected and honors them genuinely, as each pattern, image, and crafting style is handpicked with them in mind.

In recognition of those who have served, Boyd County Middle School has joined forces with the honorable Quilts of Valor. Guided by their caring teachers and directors, the 4-H group of Boyd County Middle School has persevered into success with the expansion of their consumer science class. Having taken note of their faculty member Joey Ellis, who served in the U.S. military, the class wanted to show him and others appreciation using their skills that they had mastered with their sewing course. Guided by their teachers, peers, and volunteers, Mrs. Stahler, Mrs. Willis, and others, the middle school classes banded together to produce beautifully sewn quilts to present to their chosen community members.

In total, 15 U.S. veterans were awarded Quilts of Valor on Nov. 11 at Boyd County Middle School. In honor of their service, each veteran received a brief speech in recognition of their accomplishments and sacrifices, along with one quilt from the class. The heartfelt gesture was extended to Joey Ellis, Alan McIntosh, Bernard Potts, Joseph Fliehman, Thurman Mills, Robert Green, Clyde Jarvis, Joseph Childers, Daniel Meek, Jeremy Pope, Timothy Eerenberg, Valerie Cassio, Charles Copley, Robert Quillen, and David White. Tears of joy and appreciation filled eyes throughout the room as warm embraces and gratitude were exchanged.

Presenting the awards were members of the 4-H consumer class of Boyd County Middle School: Hailey Pilgrim, Alie Jackson, Brooklyn Yoak, Caitlyn Kearns, Erika Ball, Jules Eerenberg, Lydia Henderson, Bea Walker, Leochia Walker, Peyton Jenkins, Kennedy Blankenship, Hannah Lykins, Alaina Alley, Braelyn Dotson, and Emmy Justice. Led into the event by the Boyd County Middle School color guard and band, the 4-H consumer class presented with honor and compassion to each veteran.