Iola veteran and long-time educator Don Bain was presented with a Quilt of Valor during a brief ceremony on Saturday afternoon at the Veterans Memorial wall downtown.
The Town Hall Quilters presented the special quilt to Bain as an expression of gratitude and healing, according to members Connie Schmidt, Sharon Grisier and Laura Sterling.
Bain enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in Oct. 1952 as an aviation cadet. In 1957, he began serving in the Reserves until retiring in 1980. He received the National Defense Service medal, the Korean War Service medal and a unit citation.
Bain trained as a basic fighter pilot. Once he earned his wings, a truce was signed with Korea and he was lucky enough to get into instructors’ school. After receiving his instructor’s degree, Bain trained in single-engine airplanes (T-28s), then spent a year training in B-52 bombers. He remained stateside while instructing pilots.
After his active duty, Bain continued his service in education. He taught math and science for six years, then served 12 years as Iola High School principal and 14 years as USD 257 superintendent.
The Quilt of Valor program began in 2003 to honor service members and veterans who have been touched by war. Town Hall Quilters is based in Yates Center and serves veterans in multiple area counties.
