Quilters honored for contribution to veterans

A dozen quilters received plaques thanking them for the 570 quilts they made for veterans at an event at Fabric Chicks Oasis on the Battle Born state’s actual birthday last week.

“This is an amazing amount of dedication to our service members and their families,” retired Sgt. Maj. Robert Brown said in presenting the plaques.

This week Carson Valley observes Veterans Day with several events, including an assembly at Gardnerville Elementary School 9:15 a.m. Wednesday. Veterans are asked to arrive by 8:30 a.m. for refeshments.

Welcome All Veterans Everywhere is hosting a gathering at the veterans memorial at the Douglas County courthouse in Minden 8 a.m. Friday. Veterans Day is observed on Friday, with local, state and federal offices closed.

The quilt effort began in 2008, when Army National Guard Col Dave Sarnowski made contact with the quilters, according to Brown.

“The quilts were unable to be sent to Walter Reed because of stringent size requirements in the hospital setting,” Brown said.

Sarnowski contacted Brown, who was working at National Guard Bureau.

Sarnowski had quilts sent to Brown to present to wounded service members, including the first who was wounded by an improvised explosive device in Iraq.

The first 20 quilts were presented to other dervice members recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

“The women from Fabric Chicks Oasis made quilts that were distributed at Walter Reed after care and then went nationwide with their project,” Brown said. “Most went to Veterans of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Quilts are delivered to the Sierra Vista Army JROTC Program located in Las Vegas.”

Quilts are mailed out by the Sierra Vista Program to veterans who do not live in the area, but most are hand-delivered.

“Veterans receive a quilt, a handwritten letter from a Ccadet, and a handmade patriotic Kleenex tissue box holder,” Brown said. “The mug reads ‘Service to Your Country is a Gift to Us All’ with more than 360 quilts being presented by the Sierra Vista High School JROTC Program.”

Shipping for quilts is paid for by the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, Chapter 41-1. Their mission statement is “Vets Helping Vets.”

Retired members of the Nevada National Guard came together to recognize the quilters on Oct. 31.

“When we think of the phrase ‘Service to Your Country is a Gift to Us All’ there is no doubt that the Northern Nevada Quilters exemplify this,” Brown said. “’All For Our Country’ is our state motto. These ladies are sewing it one quilt at a time." 

The owners of Fabric Chicks Oasis, Beth Watts and her husband Roger received a handmade wooden flag from the National Guard.