Quilts of Valor honors local veterans during ceremony

CONTRIBUTED BY GATOR KINCAID,

EAST ALABAMA NEWS

CHAMBERS COUNTY — Members of Quilts of Valor gathered with veterans, family members and community supporters for an award ceremony at Shawmut Methodist Church.

Debra Alexander, a representative of Quilts of Valor, welcomed guests and thanked the church for providing space and support for the organization.

“It is an honor to have y’all here with us,” Alexander said. “When we were approached about Quilts of Valor, we looked at it as an opportunity for the church to help these people reach those whom they felt God had called them to bless.”

The ceremony opened with a prayer led by Shawmut Methodist Church Pastor Keith Davis. The prayer recognized the sacrifices made by veterans and their families and asked for comfort and peace for those carrying difficult memories from their military service.

Alexander later explained the history and mission of Quilts of Valor, a national organization founded in 2003 by Catherine Roberts. Roberts was inspired to create quilts after dreaming about a soldier struggling with the emotional effects of war.

The quilts are intended to offer warmth, comfort and a reminder that veterans are not alone.

“Don’t treat it as an object,” Alexander told the recipients. “It’s part of you from us.”

Alexander said the organization has awarded more than 450,000 quilts since its founding, but continues to seek nominations for veterans who have not yet received one. Veterans may be nominated through the Quilts of Valor website or by contacting a local representative.

She also thanked the families of veterans for the sacrifices they made while their loved ones were serving.

“Your soldiers may not talk about their demons,” Alexander said. “That’s not to block you out, not to make you think he’s keeping secrets, but it’s protection and love.”

The ceremony included a special welcome home message for Vietnam veterans, many of whom did not receive the recognition they deserved when they returned home.

“We want to say to you, welcome home,” Alexander said. “You didn’t get the welcome you should have gotten, and we’re sorry for that. But let us say welcome home, and we appreciate what you did.”

Quilts were presented to several veterans, including George Fritz, Michael Malone, Christopher Cody Napier, Nicholas Terrio and Bruce Pike.

Fritz served in the Army from 1962 to 1991, including assignments as a drill sergeant, first sergeant and member of the 5th Special Forces Group. He also served in Vietnam and described being wounded during a classified mission in Laos in 1968.

Fritz said he continued his military career despite his injuries and eventually retired after nearly three decades of service.

Napier served in the Army from 2006 to 2012, including time at Fort Benning and with the Oklahoma National Guard. Terrio served in the Marine Corps from 2000 to 2005, including service in the Middle East. Pike was recognized for 28 years of service. 

Malone served 11 years on active duty in the Navy and later served in the Army Reserve and Army Civil Service. He recalled serving aboard aircraft carriers and participating in operations near Libya and Beirut.

“If I had to do it all over again, I would,” Malone said. “I’d gladly do it.”

Organizers noted that the veterans honored during the ceremony represented a combined 85 years of military service.

The event concluded with a reading of a tribute to veterans and their families, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.