Six Allen County veterans were honored for their service to country Sunday with quilts.
“The quilt is our expression of gratitude meant to say ‘thank you’ and comfort you,” explained Connie Schmidt, speaking on behalf of the Town Hall Quilters out of Yates Center.
Schmidt led a Quilts of Valor ceremony Sunday afternoon in front of the Allen County Veterans Wall in downtown Iola.
The recipients:
David L. Donovan served in the Air Force from 1963 to 1983, where he worked as a Morse systems operator and trained as a technician. His service took him to Germany, Pakistan, Thailand and Greece, where he earned a Good Conduct medal with five oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with an oak leaf, an Air Force Commendation medal and National Defense service medal.
Steven M. Hammond served in the Air Force from 1970 to 1975, where he trained as an aircraft mechanic. Hammond served in the Philippines, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Taiwan and Japan. Perhaps most noteworthy, Schmidt said, was Hammond learned to parachute within a week and helped bring home numerous prisoners of war.
Darrel W. Hawk served in the Navy in Vietnam, Japan and the South China Sea from 1964 to 1968. He was trained in damage control, maintenance and firefighting. There, he earned the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Lifetime membership for serving on the Frank Knox while it was marooned on the Pratas Reef in the South China Sea for 37 days. After it was dislodged, he traveled with the boat onto Japan for more than a year’s worth of repairs.
Bruce W. Jackson served in the Marine Corp from 1967 to 1971 in Vietnam. He was trained in motor transport and corrections, and earned a National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam service medal with four stars, Vietnam Campaign medal with device, Good Conduct medal, RVN Cross of Gallantry with Palm and Sharp Shooter Badge.
Lee Roy Maier Jr. served in the Army from 2002 to 2018, where he served two duties in Iraq and in Germany, Armenia and several U.S. bases. Maier was trained in humanitarian mine action, combat engineering and a chemical survey team. Maier earned a Purple Heart, combat action badge, Iraq campaign medal, Afghanistan campaign medal and NATO medal.
While he was not at Sunday’s ceremony, Earl Carlson also received a quilt. Carlson served from 1954 to 1956 and was stationed in Austria and Italy, where he worked on anti-aircraft equipment. He received a Good Conduct medal, Marksman medal, Occupy Europe, Austria and Italy medals and Peacekeeping after World War II.
SCHMIDT noted the veterans often are hesitant to talk about their service, “which is just fine. We understand and appreciate their service.”
The Quilts of Valor program started in 2003, with volunteers making hand-made quilts to honor service members and veterans. No two are exactly the same, with designs dictated by the quilter.
Schmidt has handed out more than more than 30 quilts in Woodson, Wilson, Greenwood and Allen counties.
Anyone can request a quilt for somebody who’s a veteran, but it’s important to remain patient because the intricate process can take a while to complete.
