Heroes Honored with Quilts of Valor

The talented and patriotic ladies of the Quilters of the Nature Coast recently honored three Veterans for their service to our country with personalized “Quilts of Valor.”

Quilters of the Nature Coast participates in the nationwide Quilts of Valor Foundation program. The foundation serves Veterans across America with the healing power of quilts made with love.

The idea for Quilts of Valor came to the organization’s founder, Catherine Roberts, in a dream in 2003 when her son was deployed in Iraq. In the dream, she saw her son sitting on the side of his bed in extreme despair as his war demons surrounded him. Then she saw him wrapped in a quilt at peace. Roberts stated, “His whole demeanor changed from one of despair to one of hope and well-being. The quilt had made this dramatic change. The message of my dream was: Quilts = Healing.”

The Veterans honored on Thursday at the Mining Enrichment Center in Brooksville were Alice Reid of Brooksville, who served in the United States Navy from 1977-1980; William Stoehs of Hudson, United States Navy, 1968-1992 and Mary Ann Delvalle of Hernando Beach, United States Army 1976-1998.

Each Veteran was presented with their quilt individually and then wrapped in the quilt, a symbolic gesture of healing.

Dale Wenner, Quilts of Valor program coordinator, explained that the quilt itself is sometimes created by the group as a whole or by individual members at home.

Each quilt has a label with the Veteran’s name and service record.
“We are the only quilting group in the state of Florida that actually does those labels embroidered like that,” said Quilters of the Nature Coast member Reba Miller.

Miller is responsible for creating the embroidered labels. She said that these are the longest quilts she has ever done, which made the embroidery process a bit more challenging.

Miller said that the label preserves the veteran’s service record so that the veteran’s children and grandchildren will be aware of their accomplishments in the military.

Navy Veteran Alice Rice said, “To be honored this way is emotional for me. What a great organization for somebody to have started this for this reason.”

Her sister is also a Veteran who was honored by Quilts of Valor.
“We’re a military family. We were raised in the Air Force. I get all teared up when I talk about it. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be honored with such a thing.”

“It is more beautiful and more important than any award I’ve ever received in my life,” said Army Veteran Mary Ann Delvalle.
“It’s a gorgeous piece of work and it was made with love and I can feel it.”

“It’s such a beautiful gift,” said Navy Veteran William Stoehs. “Very Touched.”

“Just full of love and appreciation for it,” said Kathy Stoehs, William’s wife.

“It’s very emotional.”

Veterans who have been touched by war are nominated for this honor and the guild closest to them provides the quilt.

Quilters of the Nature Coast is planning another ceremony in November for two Veterans who couldn’t make it to the ceremony on Thursday.

Learn more about nominating a Veteran for Quilts of Valor at https://www.qovf.org/nominations-awards/.

If you are interested in joining the Quilters of the Nature Coast, monthly meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at 10:00 AM at the Hernando County Mining Association Enrichment Center (also known as “The Quarry”), 800 John Gary Grubbs Blvd., Brooksville, FL. Phone: 352-544-5900.