Day 4: Thirteen members receive Quilts of Valor at moving ceremony
On Wednesday night, Chris Hamp, National Lecturer opened the evening’s presentation by asking all members of the military branches to stand when the theme song of their military branch was played.
Quilts of Valor Executive Director Tammany McDaniel shared the history of the Quilts of Valor Foundation and the partnership that has been developed with the National Grange called Under Our Wings. It allows Grange quilters to produce the award for veterans and each quilt then includes two patches, one showing it is an official Quilt of Valor and to whom it was issued, for what years they served as well as a patch with the Grange logo and information on the quilter. Jenny Caughey, of Minnesota, explained that she got interested in the foundation after looking at a bumper sticker she had placed on her car that read “I support the troops.” She wondered, “how DO I support the troops?” Quilts of Valor gave her the answer and the mission to drive her to be the Minnesota Coordinator for Quilts of Valor.
Quilts of Valor were then presented to 13 military veterans and active duty service members from four of the branches of the
U.S. armed forces in a moving ceremony. Quilts of Valor is a national organization that has awarded over 232,000 quilts since 2003 when the organization began. Its mission is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.
Bonnie Mitson of Idaho and Gwen Swenson of Minnesota displayed and presented the quilts to each individual veteran after his or her name was called and his or her service described. Then they wrapped the veteran in the quilt and in that emotional moment, said, “thank you for your service,” face to face.
Michas Monroe Ohnstad of Minnesota was presented with the final quilt of the evening and the story of his service was read aloud. Ohnstad graduated from Hinkley High School in 1944 and left for WWII Army service from the depot in Hinckley. Ohnstad served with the 43rd Infantry Division at Cabanatuan, Luzon, the Philippines and upon Japan’s surrender on August 14, 1945 (Ohnstad’s 19th birthday) he transferred to Yokoma, Japan with the 1st Cavalry Division. On September 30, 1945, Ohnstad was ordered by General MacArthur to serve with the Atomic Bomb Commission at Hiroshima/Nagasaki and historically is the only Minnesotan to serve in that capacity.
Ohnstad commented that receiving the quilt was “a wonderful recognition for all of our service people, and the Grange should be recognized for saying thank you to the veterans who have pledged their lives and sacred honor in service of America. That’s the commitment every veteran has made.”
Many veterans spoke with tears in their eyes as they expressed their gratitude for the honor and the words of thanks received along with the quilt.
“It’s quite a feeling,” said Gary Brumbaugh of Ohio. “I was drafted
and am proud to have served. I was with a wonderful unit of guys and I came out with a good attitude about military service.”
While most veterans were surprised by the time and effort family members had put into their quilts, Doug Baldwin of Iowa admitted that he knew in advance as he had been able to read his father’s emails to his mom. “If you want to keep a secret, don’t write about it in an email!” he laughed. His father, Dwight, has already received a Quilt of Valor.
Several quilters also had stories to share.
Ruth Blasingame, one of two women to receive a quilt was completely surprised by the quilt her daughter, Karie, made for her. Karie and Karie’s aunt, Mary Morrison worked together and over the phone to complete the
quilt. This was Karie’s first quilt she has ever made, and her aunt has since passed away.
“This quilt has double the meaning,” said Blasingame.
Quilter Mona Harmon of Minnesota said, “As I was making the Valor quilt, I was thinking that it was important to recognize the sacrifices made by the veteran and the family. I am grateful for everything they gave for our country.”
Dean Davis, also from Minnesota, added, “It was very important to me that the quilt would be pleasing to the veteran recipient and not only to the quilter. We appreciate their service.”
For more information about Quilts of Valor and the Grange partnership, see the web site www.qovf.org.
