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Friday, August 29, 2014

A Special Morning - QOV Award


Val Heim of Superior, NE repeated the phrase "this is a very special morning" upon receiving his Quilt of Valor.  University of Nebraska Extension Educators Phyllis Schoenholz and Jaci Milius along with Office Manager Jean Stichka awarded the quilt to the dignified 93 year World War II veteran.  The request for the quilt came from southwest Kansas to the National Quilts of Valor Foundation.

Also present for the award ceremony were Gene Frerichs, adjutant and Steve Meyer past commander of the Superior American Legion Post 103 where Val is a long time member.  Heim was very modest in accepting the quilt and stated "it took all of us, so many others gave up so much more."

The conversation between the American Legion friends highlighted that Val is the oldest living professional baseball player in the U.S.A.  Val's career with the Chicago White Sox was cut short when WWII broke out and he joined the Navy.  Heim stated that baseball was the national sport at that time and military service teams had many major league players on their teams ­ which provided needed entertainment for troops of all branches of the service.











Monday, August 11, 2014

These guys are our heroes!

Hey- we did it!  
 
Had the most wonderful experience awarding 5 (1 in memorium) QOV's on Saturday at our annual guild quilt show to some terrific WWII and Korea veterans from our local Senior home here in our valley. We had planned on 5 presentations, but sadly one gentleman passed away the night before the presentation and another one was ill so I only had 3 actually make it to the event- but what special men those 3 were! The one in the black cowboy hat is 97 years old- and walked the 6 blocks to the event!! What a guy!! Everyone cried, including many of the general visitors who just happened to have stopped by as they were going thru our  quilt show! I was able to give the QOV that had been made for the veteran that passed away, to his grandson, who is on active duty but happened to be home on leave. Small miracles do happen. What a day- one I do not think they or anyone present will ever forget. 
 
These guys are our heroes!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
And as a little side note, I had a QOVF "booth" at the quilt show and got great response from the local community with many promises for future support- couldn't ask for anything better!

Kathy


Kathy Coontz,  Montana SW State Coordinator
QUILTS OF VALOR FOUNDATION