Blue Ridge Quilts of Valor presents 10 veterans with quilts

Janis Allen
·3 min read

HENDERSONVILLE - Ten people who served the United States in one of the military services received both tangible and heartfelt appreciation on June 3 at the Henderson County Library.

Veterans and their quilters from Blue Ridge Quilts of Valor pose following a June 3 ceremony at the Henderson County Library. From left to right are, front row: Peggy Natoli, Dana Hayman, Fred Hankinson, Bill Savage, Jack Simmons, Kristal Brown, Mary Parker; back row: Evelyn Uhrlass, Bonnie Cunningham, Elaine McDonald, Didi Salvatierra, Stacie Litsenberger, Meghan LaRose, Robert Cahill, Mike Butrum, Alan Ehrlich, Joanne Shafer, Linda Bomberger, Sheila Solen.

In a ceremony highlighting each of the ten veterans’ service, Blue Ridge Quilts of Valor quilters presented a patriotic, originally-designed, handmade quilt to each veteran. Veterans and the quilters who honored them were as follows:

  • Kristal Brown, US Army 1989-1991, quilt awarded by Elaine McDonald

  • Michel A. Butrum, US Army 1965-1971, quilt awarded by Didi Salvatierra

  • Robert Cahill, US Marine Corps 1968-1995, quilt awarded by Joanne Shafer representing members of Area B, Western NC Quilters Guild

  • Alan Ehrlich, US Air Force 1966-1972, quilt awarded by Dianne Bornia

  • Fred Hankinson, US Army 1966-1969, quilt awarded by Linda Bomberger

  • Dana Hayman, US Navy 1947-1951, quilt awarded by Peggy Natoli

  • Meghan LaRose, US Air Force 1988-1999, quilt awarded by Bonnie Cunningham

  • Stacie Litsenberger, US Army 1986-2010, quilt awarded by Mary Parker

  • William A. Savage, US Air Force 1949-1952, quilt awarded by Evelyn Uhrlass

  • Jack Simmons, US Marine Corps 1965-1988, quilt awarded by Elaine McDonald

Chapter Co-Leader Didi Salvatierra read this tribute to the veterans: “The Quilts of Valor awarded today have been lovingly made to honor and comfort these US Armed Service veterans. The Quilts of Valor Foundation began in 2003 by Catherine Roberts of Seaford, Delaware when her son was deployed in Iraq. She had the idea to present handmade quilts to returning soldiers to comfort them.

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“To date, over 345,000 quilts have been awarded in the U.S. as well as Afghanistan, Germany and Iraq. A Quilt of Valor is the highest civilian honor we can bestow on a Veteran. We thank you for your service, sacrifice and valor. You are not forgotten. Each quilt of Valor is formed by loving hands that join bits of fabric together one piece at a time. Quilters know that freedom is not free. The cost of our freedom is the dedication of the lives of men and women veterans. This quilt is meant to say thank you for your sacrifice and thank you for your service to our nation.”

Quilters Joanne Shafer (at left) and Didi Salvatierra wrap veteran Mike Butrum in his Quilt of Valor.
Quilters Joanne Shafer (at left) and Didi Salvatierra wrap veteran Mike Butrum in his Quilt of Valor.

The ceremony honored 10 veterans who served from 1947-2010 - a 63-year span of time in United States military history. There were three women in the group and four branches of the U.S. military represented: Army, Marines, Air Force and Navy.

The Blue Ridge Quilts of Valor chapter has 60 members. It is sponsored by the Western NC Quilters Guild and formed as a group in the summer of 2017 with a small group of 12 quilters. Since that date, they have awarded over 250 quilts to honor veterans in Henderson, Buncombe, Transylvania and Polk counties.

Stacie Litsenberger, US Army veteran (at right), sees her quilt for the first time on June 3.
Stacie Litsenberger, US Army veteran (at right), sees her quilt for the first time on June 3.

Salvatierra and Sheila Solen are co-leaders of the chapter. They have held ceremonies to present quilts in Hendersonville, Brevard, Cedar Mountain, Asheville, Tryon, Black Mountain and when needed, in veterans’ homes.Each quilt is presented in a protective tote bag along with a certificate personalized to each veteran and laundering instructions.

“We want you to use your quilt, not just keep it in a closet. Allow it to warm and comfort you. We call it ‘a quilty hug,’” Salvatierra said.

US Army Major Stacie Litsenberger and friends.
US Army Major Stacie Litsenberger and friends.
Dana Hayman, US Navy and family.
Dana Hayman, US Navy and family.

A label is sewn onto the back of each quilt with the name of the volunteers who created the quilt top and performed the quilting and the binding. The label marks the date presented and ensures the veterans and their families will know the origins of these handmade gifts for many generations to come.

Fred Hankinson, US Army, with supporters.
Fred Hankinson, US Army, with supporters.
Kristal Brown, US Army, fiancé and family.
Kristal Brown, US Army, fiancé and family.

For more information about Quilts of Valor or to nominate a veteran to receive a quilt, visit www.qovf.org.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Ten local veterans honored with quilts from Blue Ridge Quilts of Valor