WEST UNITY AREA QOV RECIPIENTS AND FRIENDS … (L TO R) Teri Lebowsky (wife of Arnold Lebowsky) Arnold Lebowsky, Air Force, SSGT, 1979-1995; Robin Webster, Army, Specialist, 1982-1990; David Webster, Army, MSG, 1980-2003; Tina Robey, Navy, PO2, 1981-1988 (West Unity native, now lives in Reading, MI); Deb Ridgway, Sauder Village Quilt Show Director & Hilltop Graduate. (PHOTO PROVIDED)
By: Amy Wendt
A first-time collaboration between the Sauder Village Quilt Show and the Quilts of Valor Foundation led to a very special evening for local veterans at the Founder’s Hall on Tuesday, May 2.
According to Jeanette Smith, Director of Sales and Marketing for Sauder Village, “For over 40 years we have been hosting the Quilt Show and this was a new exhibit that we felt would be great to be able to honor our local veterans and their service.”
Sauder Village Quilt Show Coordinator Deb Ridgeway and Quilts of Valor State of Ohio Coordinator Lacy Spurgeon worked together on the details of the awards ceremony.
Guests present for the QOV ceremony included local veterans along with their friends and family members. Also in the audience were many of the creators who hand-stitched the special patriotic-themed quilts to be awarded that evening.
The Quilts of Valor Foundation, founded in 2003 by Catherine Roberts, is based on the simple idea “Quilts = Healing.”
QOV Coordinator, Lacy Spurgeon was on hand to present the awards. For Fulton County resident Spurgeon, who also owns the Freedom Bound Quilt Shop in Wauseon, QOV is an organization that is close to her heart in many ways as conveyed in her opening speech.
“I have served the Quilts of Valor Foundation since 2017. I am a disabled Army Veteran and I served from 2008 to 2016 in Egypt and El Salvador. I was awarded my Quilt of Valor in 2019…”
“I started quilting in 2016 in order to relax and clear my head from my demons and it became an alternative therapy for me.
In 2017, I opened a quilt shop in Wauseon called Freedom Bound Quilt Shop so I could give back to other veterans and hopefully help them use sewing and quilting as an alternative therapy.”
Spurgeon continued, “The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.
The quilt we award you today will now join more than 300,000 Quilts of Valor awarded worldwide. A Quilt of Valor is a lifetime award.”
“A quilt is not a blanket. A blanket is a single layer of fabric. A quilt consists of three layers. I like to think of them in these terms:”
“The top of the quilt consists of many pieces, colors shapes, and sizes of fabrics which represents the many faces of all who served in our Armed Forces.”
“The center of the quilt contains the batting, the part of the quilt that emits warmth. Held between the layers, it represents the comfort and healing we offer you.”
“The back of the quilt is its strength. Together with thousands of stitches, they represent you, your families, and our communities, all coming together to support one another.”
“The quilt represents the gratitude of all our citizens for your service and sacrifice. We offer them as a tangible civilian award to thank you for the protection of our freedoms.”
“A Quilt of Valor is priceless. It can never be bought, it can never be sold, and it is never a gift. Know as we are stitching, we are remembering the sacrifice you have made for us.”
“It is a quilt that comes from the hearts, the hands, and sometimes the tears of the makers. No two are alike. What is the same is the love within each stitch.” “Today we offer you comfort and healing.”
The following area veterans received Quilts of Valor: Timothy Sikula, Juan Sepulveda, Brian Snyder, Roger Fritsch, James (Jim) Sanders, Buster Neeley, Joey Beck, Debra Clifford, Mike Hartsock, Robin Webster, David Webster, Roger Merillat, William Mitchey, Richard Bowser, Kimberly Dohm, Jerry Kingsbury, Gloria Poorman, Arnold Lebowsky, Doug Troyer, and Tina Robey.
To nominate a veteran to receive a Quilt of Valor or to learn more about the program visit www.qovf.org.
Amy can be reached at amy@thevillagereporter.com