11 Quilts of Valor presented to Veterans

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Eleven veterans were awarded Quilts of Valor on Wednesday at the 156th National Convention in Sparks, Nevada. These members included Grange members and veterans from the local area.

A medley of Armed Forces anthems preceded the awards, where servicemembers were encouraged to stand when their anthem was played.

Veterans were escorted by Junior and Youth Grange members: Jacob Roquet, Ryleigh Hartsell, Cade Howerton, Asheton Medlin, Jessie Jo Guttridge, Baylor Howerton, Kate Howerton, Samantha Hunnings, Lukas Freeman, Elijah “Eli” Wright, and Travis Knight.

Chris Hamp, National Grange Vice President introduced the Quilts of Valor program to the Grange. A friend had told her about the program and suggested she nominate her father, a Vietnam veteran, to receive a quilt. “I was impressed by the love and care that they showed in presenting my dad with his quilt of valor,” said Hamp.

Hamp’s father received his quilt a week before she was elected National Grange Lecturer. Thinking about projects to initiate with Grange, she selected Quilts of Valor. Since that time, the National Grange has awarded 56 quilts at conventions in Washington, Vermont, Minnesota, and Kansas. Until 2021, the quilts were solely awarded to Grange members, but in 2021 the ceremony included veterans of the world.

BY BETH SOUTHWORTH
Communication Fellow