By Charles Romans
Carter County Times
Quilts of Valor is a national organization that provides handmade quilts for veterans of the United States military. In Carter County, a group of ladies have organized a local chapter that meets regularly on Mondays at the Carter County Extension Office.
“It’s a way of bringing comfort to and help heal the veterans,” Johnda Berry said. “So, we make them and present them to Carter County Veterans. And they can qualify in two different ways. If they were a veteran and moved here, they qualify, and if they were living in Carter County when they entered the service and now live away, they can still qualify.”
“It starts with little, tiny pieces,” Berry said of the process that harkens back to the time when quilters salvaged pieces of worn clothing and fashioned them into multicolored cloth mosaics of the family’s history.
But the quilts made by the Carter County group aren’t just limited to small blocks or other fabric shapes in their quilt making. Patterned blocks and other color combinations are used, and even large panels are incorporated into the crafting of the quilts. The main regulation Quilts of Valor insists upon is that the quilts must be made of cotton and that they are of a uniform dimension.
“A lot of the veterans seem to like the quilts made from panels,” Berry said. “Because they are usually bright. And they like the ones with the eagle and the flag.”
Each handmade quilt also includes a label crafted into it that contains the name and rank of the veteran to whom it is gifted. The label also lists their branch of service and where they were stationed, such as Vietnam. Embroidered onto the label is also the name of the quilter who crafted it and that it was made by Carter County Quilts for Veterans. Then the label is attached permanently to the quilt, and when presented the veteran is told that the quilt was made especially for them. The group has made 550 quilts for veterans, and each is a unique work with very few if any similarities to the other quilts crafted by the group.
Berry said that anyone interested in supporting the group can contact them by calling (606)474-6994 or (606)316-9091.
“And you’re always welcome to come to the Extension Office and leave your name and a contact number with the Secretary,” she said.
The group relies totally on the public to help them reach out to veterans, because organizations such as the VA don’t send them lists of eligible veterans or any other information. Berry urges the public to reach out and let them know of any veteran who might benefit from what they do. The group has a Facebook Page, Carter County Quilts for Veterans, where they can be contacted as well. Folks can leave a message there and they will answer as soon as possible.
The handmade quilts cost around $300 to make, so donations are extremely helpful. But there is never any charge to the veterans who receive them.
The group has a presentation for each quilt. Some of those presentations take place in groups or at the veteran’s home, their church, or wherever they choose to receive it. And at each presentation the quilt is folded lengthwise and wrapped around the veteran’s shoulders. Berry said that represents a hug and a thank you from the United States for their service.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
