Page 16 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2024 - Online Magazine
P. 16
Quilts of Valor—
A Thank You to Cherish
by Teri Stinson
Left to right: Sharon Story, Cindy Neely, Felicia Fillingim, Sonja Mater, Teri Stinson,
Kelly Zinsmeyer, Donna Kirk
was raised in a time when about Quilts of Valor. QOV was
Patriotism was in style. started as a way to bring comfort
IWe started every morning and healing to our Veterans,
at school with the Pledge of many receiving a quilt on their
Allegiance. We were taught deathbed.
respect and care of the Flag in our
Girl Scout troops. And we were I started volunteering with Quilts
not bullied. Patriotism was cool! of Valor in 2011 in Wichita, KS.
My dad, Bill Stinson, served in the
My hometown celebrated every United States Navy during World
holiday with a parade downtown. War II and in the Korean War.
Patriotism was at the center. And My brother, Dave Stinson, is U.S.
you had better stop what you Navy (Ret.), having served from
were doing and stand at attention 1979 to 1999. My brother, Brian
with your hand over your heart Stinson, also served in the U.S.
when the American Flag passed, Navy from 1980 to 1990. Making
or else you would hear about it quilts for Veterans was my small
later! There also were the men way of saying 'Thank You.’"
and women wearing these funny
looking, pointy hats that said I am now part of the Hub City
“VFW” or “American Legion” on Freedom Quilters in Lubbock.
them. They were our heroes, and On the second Saturday of the
they deserved our utmost respect month, you will find a group of
because they had defended our ladies at Patty's Heart Quilt Shop,
freedom. surrounded by stacks of red,
white, and blue fabric. Some will
Fast forward forty years; I became be sewing, some will be cutting
an avid quilter. I’d made at fabric, and still others will be
least one quilt for every family pressing seams. It will all come
member and friend, and even together in a beautiful, one-of-a-
some strangers. And then I heard kind Quilt of Valor.
16 Lubbock Senior Link
