Members of the Sew and Sews Quilt Guild honored 22 Pendleton County military heroes during a presentation Saturday at the Treasure Mountain Festival in Franklin.
McKenzie VanDevander, the first Miss West Virginia Military Star Junior queen and the National Military Star Junior queen, led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The deserving men and women who individually made so many sacrifices for this country were presented with Comforters of Valor. As Patty Sickler read each name, the veteran stepped forward to be presented a small token of appreciation for their service to Pendleton County and the United States of America.
Receiving a one-of-a kind comforter were Senior Chief Thomas Calhoun, United States Navy; Lance Corporal Michael Catterton, United States Marine Corps; Petty Officer Second Class Richard Ceely, United States Navy; Petty Officer Third Class Aaron Eye, United States Navy; Petty Officer First Class Richard Gardner, United States Navy; Senior Airman Alicia Johnson, United States Air Force; Private First Class Judith Key, United States Army; Private First Class Daniel Miller, United States Marine Corps; Major Russell Miller Jr., United States Marine Corps; Private First Class Bryant Mitts, United States Army; Lieutenant Colonel Jeffery Munn, United States Army; Staff Sargent Dan Nulph, United States Army National Guard; Machinist Mate Third Class Joshua Owens, United States Navy; E6 Technical Sargent Daniel Roberson, United States Air Force; Chief Petty Officer Russell Sasso, United States Navy; Sargent John Simmons, United States Army; Specialist David B. Trail, United States Army; Sargent First Class David K. Trail, United States Army; Staff Sargent Eric VanDevander, United States Army; Sargent Mark Varner, United States Army; Corporal Justin Ware, United States Marine Corps; and Hospital Corpsman Third Class Christi Reed Wimer. United States Navy.
On each Comforter of Valor, the following message is printed on the back: “This Comforter of Valor is presented to (name of the veteran), With respect and gratitude for the, Sacrifices you made for us all, Thank you for your service to our country, Made with great appreciation by the, Sew and Sews Quilt Guild, Pendleton County, West Virginia.”
“In 2017 the Sew and Sews Quilt Guild of about 30 members decided to start a project to honor the military veterans living in or from Pendleton County. Members try to visit and present a one-of-a-kind Comforter of Valor to each veteran,” commented Elizabeth Mitchell, committee chairperson.
The ladies in the guild gather to piece the tops together, sew them, knot the comforters and add the labels. One comforter is often the work of several women. Currently, 360 heroes have been honored with a Comforter of Valor.
“We want to thank all the veterans that we have had the pleasure of meeting. You truly have been a hero to give your time and to serve our country by protecting our values and freedom,” said Jamey Wimer, Sew and Sews Quilt Guild president. “In one of the many thank you notes that we have received, one of the veterans shared this quote: ‘To be born free is an accident, To live free is a privilege, To die free is a responsibility.’”
The Sew and Sews Quilt Guild has not delivered all the Comforters of Valor in Pendleton County. If any veteran or if someone knows a veteran who has not been presented a comforter, contact Mitchell at 304-358-2543, Sickler at 304-249-5520, Wimer at 304-358-2294 or any guild member.
