Perry Piecemakers present Quilts of Valor to nine veterans
Nine more veterans received Quilts of Valor through two Veterans Day presentations.
The Perry Piecemakers Quilt Guild presented one quilt to Peter Meis during Perry's annual Veterans Day Celebration on Friday, Nov. 10.
Eight additional quilts were presented during a ceremony that same day at the Perry Elks Lodge. Those receiving quilts included Brad Burrell, Jim Cornelius, James Michael Kelley, David Oliveira, Wayne Priest, John "Jack" Lint, Larry Vodenik and Lou Hoger.
Quilt guild members said they have presented 43 Quilts of Valor to area veterans this year. That number was around 17 in 2022.
Veterans receive a quilt made by members of the Perry Piecemakers during group or individual presentations, often with family members. The quilts contain a label with the veterans’ name and service information along with a care label.
Nominations continue to come in and Mundy said in an earlier interview that the guild tries to accommodate as many as they can with available funds.
“It costs between $200-300 for a quilt,” she said. “Our quilts are top quality quilts, we never cut corners on fabric or quilting or anything like that because we want them to be a symbol of the perfection of the service the person gave.”
The Perry Piecemakers joined the Quilts of Valor Foundation in November 2022. Those looking to donate to the quilt guild for the Quilts of Valor project can send a check to the foundation office in Winterset. The money goes into a fund that belongs to the Perry Piecemakers.
More: 'A grateful nation thanks you': Perry Piecemakers continue Quilts of Valor mission
Checks can be made out to Quilts of Valor Foundation and sent to Quilts of Valor Foundation PO Box 191 Winterset, IA 50273. Mundy said those looking to donate can note Perry’s name and number on the check and the funds will go directly to the guild: Perry, Iowa Piecemakers Quilts of Valor, PIPQOV, #87243.
“We’re at a point where as long as we have funds coming in, if we get requests from the area, we will provide for them as well as we can,” Mundy said. “Right now, we’ve had some generous donations and we’re hoping to receive some more so that we can keep going. We hope to keep up with the need.”
Those interested in nominating veterans to receive a Quilt of Valor should contact Barb Hansen at 515-290-2140. For more information, contact Mundy at 515-360-9731.
Learn more about the veterans who received Quilts of Valor during Veterans Day celebrations:
Peter Meis
Peter Meis joined the Iowa Army National Guard in 1990 as a forklift operator. He attended basic training at Ft. Leonardwood, MO and was assigned to Supply and Services Company at Camp Dodge. During the Gulf War in 1990, he was transferred to 134th Quartermaster and trained as an Automated Logistic Specialist. After the Gulf War, he returned to Camp Dodge. He received his commission from Officer Candidate School in August, 1997 and returned to Camp Dodge as Platoon Leader for the Fuel Section.
In 2000 at the rank of Lieutenant, Peter was assigned to the 554th Quartermaster Battalion as Commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment. He was promoted to Captain and worked as Personnel and Supply Officer until deployment to Afghanistan where he worked as a Personnel Office for the Embedded Training Team element in the spring of 2006.
In the fall of 2007, Captain Meis was transferred to the 734th Regional Support Group as Supply and Service Officer for two yrs. He was then assigned to Camp Dodge Training Site as the Supply Officer in 2009 as Team Leader for Alpha Team. In 2010 Peter was promoted to Major and received orders to deploy to Rock Island Arsenal.
Returning to Camp Dodge Training Site in 2013 he was assigned to the Joint Operations Center as Chief in Joint Forces Headquarters for 3 years. In 2016, Peter was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and transferred to Camp Dodge Training Site as Supply Chief.
In 2020 Peter was deployed to Kosovo serving as J-4 Plans Staff Officer. He returned to Joint Forces Headquarters in summer of 2021 and holds a current position of Selective Service Officer.
Lt. Colonel Meis holds a bachelors degree in biology and minor in chemistry from Clarke Univ. in Dubuque, bachelor’s degree in education and coaching endorsement from UNI and masters in education from Viterbo Univ.
He is currently a teacher at Perry Community Schools. He and his wife Klista and 5 children live in Perry.
It is an honor to award you this quilt of valor for your service to our country.
Thank you, Peter for your service.
Brad Burrell
A previous Quilt of Valor recipient Joe Carney has nominated Brad Burrell for the quilt of valor award.
Brad entered the U. S. Marine Corps on September 1986. Basic training was at U. S Marine Recruit Center in San Diego, CA. His training for motor vehicle operator and tractor trailer operator was at Camp Pendleton, CA.
During his marine years he was stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA, Twenty-nine Palms, CA during Desert Storm and Okinawa, Japan. Duties in Japan were transporting from ship to base.
Brad was discharged June 1993 at the rank for Corporal. He received good conduct medal and two Meritorious Medals.
Brad’s training in the service was beneficial in his work in his current role as a truck driver.
Today we award you a quilt of valor for your service to our country.
Thank you, Brad.
Jim Cornelius
In May 1971, Jim Cornelius entered the U. S. Marine Corps and headed to Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, CA for basic training. He later went to Camp LeJune for 3421 disbursing and Camp Pendleton for Infantry Camp. In 1976 he was back at Recruit Depot as a drill instructor. Special electronic training was received at Ft. Gordon, GA. He also served during the Vietnam Era.
With the Iowa National Guard, he served in Saudia Arabia and Desert Storm.
Jim was discharged in 1996 at the rank of Master Sergeant.
Numerous honors and recognition were received:
National Defense Medal
Kuwait Liberation of Liberation of Kuwait Medal
Saudi Arabia Medal for Liberation of Kuwait
SW Asia Service Medal
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
Army Commendation
Army Achievement
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
From 1999 – 2017 Jim was employed with the State of Iowa in the Department of Transportation.
Jim, a grateful nation welcomes you home with the wrapping of the quilt of valor. Thank you for your service to our country.
James Michael Kelley
James Kelley entered the U. S. Air Force in November 1966 with basic training at Amarillo Air Force Base. Specialized training was received for Hospital Corpsman, Air Force Survival School and Aerospace School of Medicine.
Jim served during the Vietnam Era and was deployed to Scott Air Force Base 67-68 serving on Open Surgery Team, Thailand 68-69, and Aero Medical ICAL Evacuation from 69-70.
In 1970 Jim was released from active duty as a sergeant. Following active duty, Jim made himself available for call to active duty for 2 more years. He was never called.
Recognitions and honors received:
National Defense Ribbon
Small Arms Expert Ribbon
Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Good Conduct Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with 1 battle star
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with 1 oak leaf
Republic of Vietnam Campaign medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Organizational Excellent Award
Following service, Jim attended Drake University and Mercy School of Nursing. He worked at Emergency Room of Iowa Methodist. Further employment was with State of Iowa as a Nursing Supervisor and Dept. of Inspections and Appeals.
Thanks to Tom Sloss for nominating you to receive the quilt of valor award.
A grateful nation is thankful for your service to our country and awarding you with the wrapping of a quilt of valor.
Thank you for your service.
David Oliveira
David entered the U. S. Navy June 1964 with basic training in the Great Lakes and later in the fall he received training as a Hospital Corpsman.
During time in Navy David, was at Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, FL. and on the USS Repose AH-16 during Vietnam and Naval Hospital at Subic Bay, Philippine Island.
The USS Repose was a hospital ship made up of 2 naval commands: the ship and the crew. The Captain of the ship was the commanding officer and also a physician and 2nd command was the hospital crew. This was the largest Naval Hospital that David worked on in a medical unit nearly exclusively taking care of marines with malaria. Getting malaria 2 or 3 times automatically sent a marine home. Malaria kills about 1 million people a year. None of the marines in the hospital died because of malaria.
Most of the hospital was made up of surgical units. The ship took on patients by helicopters which delivered wounded in firefights. Most of the marines that David took care of returned to duty.
While stationed in Philippine Island, David climbed Mt. Fuji.
On June 1968 David was discharged at the rank of HM3 Hospital Corpsman 3.
Following the service, David was a vocational rehabilitation counselor, disability examiner and registered nurse.
Thank you to Judy Tomenga and Valerie McCool for nominating you.
A grateful nation welcomes you home with the award of this Quilt of Valor.
Thank you, David for your service.
Wayne Priest
It was May 1961 when Wayne enlisted in the U. S. Navy and had basic training in San Diego, CA. His specialized training was in Electrician Mate School.
Wayne served during the Vietnam era aboard the USS Theodore E. Chandler DD717 7th Fleet for 26 months. Deployment took him to South China Sea, Japan, Philippines, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Maintenance of the ship was a main event.
June 24, 1964 serving 2 years and 11 months, Wayne was discharged at the rank of EM3 Electricians Mate 3rd Class.
Thank you to Mary Peterson for nominating you for a quilt of valor award.
Wayne, a grateful nation welcomes you home!
John "Jack" Lint
Thank you to Sharon Riley for nominating you for the Quilt of Valor award.
Jack as you are commonly called left his wife and entered the U. S. Army October 1962 with basic training at Ft. Leonardwood, MO. For 17 months he drove the jeep for the Lt. Colonel of 27th Artillery Unit at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. At one time he was in war games for 30 days in the desert of Arizona. The unit had to sleep out in the desert during May. The temperature and conditions can become uncomfortable even that time of the year.
During Jack’s time in the service, the Cuban Crisis Bay of Pigs was going on and also Kennedy was assassinated.
In 1964 at the rank of E4, Jack was honorably discharged and received an Expert Rifle Range honor.
Following discharge Jack worked and owned a grain elevator from 1964 – 1977. He became the manager of Rippey Co-op until 2000 when he retired.
Jack went on an honor flight this year and highly recommends that experience to any veteran.
Jack, with the wrapping of this quilt, a grateful nation thanks you for your service to our country.
Larry Vodenik
Larry Vodenik was 10 years old when his father who was in the National Guard said to him that he should enlist in the Guard so they could serve together.
In 1962 Larry did enlist in the U. S. Army National Guard. His basic training was at Ft. Leonardwood, MO. He went to Ft. Riley, KS where he was trained as a communication specialist. Following Ft. Riley, he was assigned to the Guard unit in Perry where his father was a member.
Larry was the company training C.O. and also on Hazardous Duty assignment which included Riot Control. One of the duties was riot control at Iowa State Fair. Both he and his father could not be on the same duty at same time. Therefore, his father went.
Larry was discharged from he Guard in 1970 as a sergeant.
Following service, Larry was an owner of a bar in Rippey for a couple of years, manager/owner of Pouchies for 25 years, and worked at HyVee for 20 years full time. You can still find him occasionally at HyVee.
Larry can wear the hat of a volunteer. He does the web pages and facebook for Pegasus and Perry Food Pantry along with volunteering at the Food Pantry.
He is on the board of Directors for the Chamber, HUP, School Board of Directors for School Foundation, Perry Historical Society, and Fine Arts Volunteer.
Larry, we award you this Quilt of Valor in thanks for your service to our country.
Lou Hoger
At a time when men were given a draft number and you were not enrolled in college, a person was drafted. In 1967, Lou was not enrolled in college and his number was called. He was drafted June 17, 1967 and reported to Ft. Leonard for basic training.
As an acting Platoon Sargeant in Basic Training, Lou was promoted to E-2 and had orders to Infantry Leadership School out of Basic. However, the last week of Basic, he was pulled out of formation and asked if, due to his math test scores, he would consider an enlistment for an electronics specialty. He selected Air Defense Radar Repair with 9 month schooling at Ft. Monmouth, NJ.
Upon completion of that school, Hoger was promoted to Specialist 4th Class and assigned to the 35th Artillery Brigade Air Defense at Ft. Meade, MD, the Washington-Baltimore Air Defense unit with 9Nike-Hercules missile sites around the area. His team was responsible for the radar maintenance at all sites.
A year after being assigned to the 35th Brigade, Lou was nominated and competed for Soldier of the Year at Ft. Meade. He was awarded the honor with press release and $50 Savings Bond plus promotion to Spec. 5th class.
About 6 months later, he was nominated for Soldier of the Year for the Eastern Region of the Army Air Defense Command, competing at West Point Military Academy. He again received the award along with A $100 savings bond.
Finally, he was nominated for Soldier of the Year for the national Air Defense Command and competed at NORAD in Colorado Springs, CO. He finished 2nd and became the selected driver for the Eastern Region and ARADCOM when commanding generals came to DC.
Several times Lou was asked about his career choice and offered promotion to Staff Sargeant. He declined and chose to leave the military October 1970 to continue his studies for the pastoral ministry under GI bill.
For 7 years Lou served in Hospital Chaplaincy and Prison Chaplaincy supervisor. He served in Parish ministry in Illinois, Iowa, and retiring in Perry. Currently, Lou is volunteering his time as site manager for Perry Area Food Pantry and also Senor Health Insurance Counselor for the Iowa Insurance Division.
Our nation can be proud of your service to its country and community. Thanks to your Wife Lois for nominating you. This quilt will also have a special meaning to you because it was pieced together by your granddaughters Paige and Lilly under the guidance of Lois.
Lou with the award of this quilt of valor, a grateful nation is thanking you for your service to its country.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Perry Piecemakers present Quilts of Valor to nine veterans
