WHEATLAND -- Quilts of Valor held a presentation at the Wheatland Fire Training Center on Saturday. Three beautiful patriotic quilts were presented to Wheatland residents Lloyd Koerwitz, Donald Dingman, and Richard Bohm.
Lloyd Koerwitz served with the U.S. Army Air Corp and was fought during WWII and the Korean conflict. Donald Dingman served with the U.S. Army and fought during the Korean conflict. Richard Bohm served with the U.S. Army and fought during the Vietnam war.
Quilts of Valor is an organization who presents quality-made quilts to war veterans to show gratitude for their service, sacrifice and valor in serving our nation.
The foundation began in 2003, when Catherine Roberts had a dream of a young man hunched over on his bed, filled with utter despair. In the next scene, she saw him wrapped in a quilt. After being wrapped in the quilt the young man now filled with hope and wellbeing.
The mission of Quilts of Valor is “to cover all combat service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.”
The first quilt was awarded in November of 2003, and as of November 2017, 171,070 quilts have been awarded. The local members are Nancy Erickson, Marilyn Lanham, Brenda Salvarson, and Barbara Carley.
“My quilt isn’t another military medal to be placed in a box and sit on my shelf. I was moved to tears,” one unnamed Iraqi war veteran said of the program in 2005.
The Quilts of Valor allows people to donate by becoming members of the foundation and also allows people to make quilts with the best workmanship to show gratitude. In order to find the requirements for the quilts or to get involved, go to their website at qovf.org.
