Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
At the Veteran's Day dinner at Heritage Church Monday, Delbert Cook, with wife Dolores, holds a plaque presented to him by the VFW for 70 years of membership.
Frank White
Al Fink
Jim Zimprich
Wayne Frederick
JoEllen Wollman and Lise Ott present quilts to Odessa Veterans Monday at the Vet's Dinner in the Heritage Church basement
By LISE OTT
In 2017, JoEllen Wollman and I made a pledge to present every veteran in Odessa with a quilt. It may take us a few years, but we are well on our way. Seven quilts were presented in 2017, and we were able to follow up with nine more this year.
We are not an official part of the Quilts of Valor program, nor of any of the other official groups that award quilts to vets. We wanted our program to be flexible and personal, so we make the quilts with a lot of help from other area quilters, and we work with the local VFW chapter to select veterans to receive the quilts each year. As time goes on, this program has become nearer and dearer to our hearts. It has made us think more about our own connections with the military and allowed us to make new connections with area veterans.
Other quilters have assisted us in many ways. This year, we received two completed quilt tops from Scotty Bacon and Linda Gustafson. We have received donations of patriotic fabrics from quilters and non-quilters alike. Several quilters have come and sewn blocks and tops with us. Experience Quilts! has been providing batting and backing fabric for each of the 16 quilts presented so far, as well as the longarm quilting.
Please don't think we are bragging about this program. We get plenty of joy and a real feeling of accomplishment from what we are doing. However, if you would like to participate, here are a few options: If you like to sew, come join us on one of our "sew days." We will try to get a notice in the paper as well as on our Facebook page. If you don't sew, you could help by funding a quilt component. Batting for a quilt costs about $12, backing about $15. A yard of fabric at cost is about $6.
You can also help by letting us know of veterans who have not yet received a quilt. Most of all, you can help by letting vets know you appreciate them and their service.
Notes: Quilts were presented to Steve Siegel and Frank Clark at the school assembly program Friday, November 9. One was presented to Don Haase at the nursing home Sunday, November 11. Six were presented to Al Fink, Jim Zimprich, Larry Cameron, Wayne Frederick and Frank White at the Veterans' Day dinner Monday, November 12. One will be presented to Ivan Walter at Quail Court at a time to be arranged later.
Reader Comments(0)