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Floyd County Quilts of Valor recognize 11 veterans

  • The Floyd County Quilts of Valor honored 11 military veterans on Friday afternoon in the Zastrow Room of the Charles City Public Library. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • World War II Army veteran Bernard Horn receives a Quilt of Valor on Friday in Charles City. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • World War II Army veteran Bernard Horn wears his Quilt of Valor on Friday in Charles City. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • The Floyd County Quilts of Valor honored 11 military veterans on Friday afternoon in the Zastrow Room of the Charles City Public Library. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • Marine veteran James Holt receives his Quilt of Valor on Friday in Charles City. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • The Floyd County Quilts of Valor honored 11 military veterans on Friday afternoon in the Zastrow Room of the Charles City Public Library. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • Navy veteran Leonard Bornstein (middle) receives a Quilt of Valor on Friday in Charles City. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • The Floyd County Quilts of Valor honored 11 military veterans on Friday afternoon in the Zastrow Room of the Charles City Public Library. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • Sean O'Neill says a prayer as Joyce Laffe looks on at the Floyd County Quilts of Valor presentation on Friday in Charles City. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • Joyce Laffe leads the presentation of the Floyd County Quilts of Valor on Friday in Charles City. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • Army veteran Lynn Poppen receives a Quilt of Valor from volunteers Colette Schmidtke (left) and Lisa Gebel on Friday in Charles City. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • Army veteran John Reveland Jr. receives a Quilt of Valor on Friday in Charles City. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

  • Navy veteran Al Williams (left) sits with Army veteran Maria Deike after she received her Quilt of Valor on Friday in Charles City. Press photo by Kelly Terpstra

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

There have been more than 25,000 quilts awarded just this year across the nation that have been recognized by the Quilts of Valor’s national branch.

Add 11 more to that total on Friday afternoon as the Floyd County Quilts of Valor honored a respected contingent of area veterans with quilts in the Zastrow Room of the Charles City Public Library.

Each veteran has a unique story of the time he or she served in the military, so it’s only appropriate that each quilt that is handed out is carefully crafted and adorned with various colorful patterns that are unique to that individual.

Joyce Laffe, the presenter at Friday’s ceremony and a member of the Floyd County Quilts of Valor, said that there are more than 30 members of the organization that was formed last April. Laffe said this is the third presentation they’ve had since the inception of the group.

“Most all of us have a line of veterans from our families that have passed on. I think that’s kind of where a lot of us get the passion to do this for other people,” said Laffe.

The recipients of the Quilt of Valor were Bernard Horn (Army, 1943-45) Nashua, James Holt (Marines 1961-74) Marble Rock, Leonard Bornstein (Navy 1956-57) Charles City, James Martindale (Air Force 1956-76) Charles City, Edward Foxen (Army 1962-64) Charles City, Lynn Poppen (Army 1952-54) Charles City, Dennis Raab (Navy 1965-75) Charles City, Wallace Ross Jr. (Navy 1972-75) Charles City, Larry Enabnit (Army 1965-67) Rockford, John Reveland Jr. (Army 1965-73) Charles City and Maria Deike (Army 2002-12) Marble Rock.

On the back of each quilt is stiched a label with the recipient’s name and the date the quilt was made. The label also shows who sewed together the pieces of fabric that constitute many hours of work. Laffe said the average quilt costs about $250 to make. Quilts of Valor are all made by volunteers.

Sean O’Neill gave the prayer before the quilts were placed around the shoulders of the veterans by volunteers. O’Neill is the husband of Adrienne O’Neill, who helped start up the Floyd County Quilts of Valor after moving to the area from North Carolina.

It was an emotional moment for many, including Sean O’Neil, a Navy veteran who as a reservist helped participate in flag details for veterans’ funerals.

“It’s hard not to get emotional. I was sitting in the back and although I gave the prayer, when they gave the first quilt … my eyes got wet again,” Sean O’Neill said about Friday’s presentation.

Over 234,000 quilts have been awarded nationally by the Quilts of Valor, which began in 2003.

Donations and nominating veterans to receive quilts can be completed by submitting names at www.QOVF.org. For more information on becoming a volunteer or to donate in Floyd County, contact Adrienne O’Neill at 919-961-5317.

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