Eight area veterans received handmade quilts to honor their service in a ceremony at the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas on September 7. Quilts of Valor is a national organization whose members produce hand-made patchwork quilts to honor veterans throughout the United States, Germany, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
The local chapter, Blue Ridge Quilts of Valor, has 50 volunteer quilters. Internationally, the organization has presented more than 227,000 quilts to veterans since its 2003 founding.
Veterans who received quilts:
- Cate Bugala, U.S. Air Force 1977-1992, Security Police Law Enforcement, served around the world. Her quilt was made and presented by Connestee Falls Quilters Peggy McCaffrey and Patti Stevens.
- Joseph Cagney, U.S. Army 1968-1974 (including reserves), Vietnam. His quilt was made by Connestee Falls Quilters Susan Caldwell and Jackie Shulman.
- John Hallimore, U.S. Army 1968-1970, Vietnam. Quilt made by Connestee Falls Quilters Peggy McCaffrey, Beth Gillespie, and Sharon Graff
- Richard Bullock, U.S. Army 1968-1994, Army Intelligence. His quilt was made by Judy Thurman and Susan Caldwell.
- Lawrence Hoffman, U.S. Army 1943-1946, D-Day Invasion, WWII. His quilt was made by Deanna Horsewood, Nelia Masiques, and Beth Berglin.
- Verl Luzena, U.S. Army Air Force Combat Camera Unit, 1942-1945, D-Day, WWII. His quilt was made by Madeline Batcha.
- Larry Vorbrich, U.S. Air Force 1969-1972, Intelligence, Cold War. His quilt was made by Bonnie Cunningham and Teri Shuler.
- James Brush, U.S. Army 1943-1946, Manhattan District Project, Los Alamos. His quilt was made by Connestee Falls Quilters Susan Caldwell and Gloria Larson.
- In addition to the quilters whose names are mentioned above, quilts were presented to the veterans by Beverly Hudson, Scott Paschal, Sheila Solen, and Didi Salvatierra.
For more information about Quilts of Valor or to nominate a veteran to receive a quilt, please visit www.qovf.org