Quilts of Valor

Local veterans Charles Meyer and David Lienke were honored in a Quilts of Valor ceremony just before the parade during the Waldorf Days celebration on Saturday, Aug. 22. The two were draped in individualized handmade quilts and acknowledged with a standing ovation under the gazebo at the Veterans Memorial Park. Also a part of the ceremony were a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Lynda Harig, Quilt of Valor group leader from Post 56 Albert Lea American Legion Auxiliary said, “It went wonderfully, it was very emotional.” Harig described strong feelings shown by presenters and honorees alike: “ But that’s what we’re aiming for, to make a difference!”

 

Harig mentioned QOV quilts distributed to area veterans are handmade by Auxiliary members, herself among them. “The gals that sew with me do not want to take any time off, they just keep going like Energizer bunnies. We do it once a month, at Creating Sew Much on Broadway, in Albert Lea, and once a month in Keister.” Harig remarked on the quilts given to Lienke and Meyer saying, “They were absolutely beautiful.” The quilts given to Lienke and Meyer were made by a Waldorf resident who chose to remain anonymous. 

 

Waldorf Days was pretty busy before the Quilts of Valor were awarded, continued Harig, “We got there early and saw the First Responder memorial. Waldorf Days had people walking around everywhere, and there were kids everywhere. What a fun time they were having.”

 

Quilts of Valor out of Albert Lea awards quilts from Waldorf to Waseca, from Austin to Fairmont. They also present quilts every month at the Albert Lea American Legion, having presented seven of them the day before.

 

The Waseca branch of the Quilts of Valor group began in 2022 and has since awarded 207 quilts to veterans. Nationally, Quilts of Valor began in 2003 when founder Catherine Roberts had a dream in which she saw someone she knew to be a veteran lost in despair and then, moments later, wrapped in a quilt and comforted. She said the message of the dream was “quilts equal healing.” Nationally the foundation has given out nearly 420,000 quilts. The message of each one has been meant to be, “Thank you for your service, sacrifice and valor in serving our nation.”