Quilts of Valor presented to Veterans in the area
Courtesy Selena Silvestro
The VFW Post 5066, located in Collierville, Tenn., held a presentation ceremony for nominated Veterans from Shelby County on Sunday, November 5, following the Veterans ceremony held by the Town of Collierville.
The Collierville VFW Post 5066 Auxiliary partnered with a local chapter of the nonprofit organization, “Quilts of Valor®” (QOV) for the third year. “Quilts of Valor®” was founded in 2003 by Catherine Roberts and has grown to many branches throughout the country since then.
In 2021, The Sewing House started a chapter of QOV in the Greater Memphis Area, and invited the sewing and quilting community to come together to participate. In the first year, 17 quilts were made and a Facebook group was launched, “The Sewing House Quilts of Valor Volunteers.” Talented local volunteers donated quilt blocks, quilt tops, and even completed quilts. This November, a total of 29 quilts will be awarded at three local events. Last year, 27 quilts were presented to Veterans.
The Sewing House Quilts of Valor group is managed by Jennifer and Tom Reith, The Sewing House shop owners, along with VFW Post 5066 Auxiliary Guard, Selena Silvestro, Teresa Johnson (Jr. Vice President/Past President) and Kathy Curry (Treasurer).
For the past three years, dedicated quilters have served as team captains to keep the creative process running smoothly – Iris Tyler, Peggy and Curt Wilson, Valerie Frazier, and Linda and Erwin Rathje. Thanks to local donors A-Team Roofing and Point Pleasant Farm, fabric backing and batting is purchased to finish the quilts. This year’s longarm quilting superstar award was presented to Cathy Cutter who finished 17 quilts personally to meet the November deadline.
The dedicated group of community volunteers works hard to make enough quilts for every Veteran nominated. Each quilt is stitched with love and gratitude for our local Veterans and all they have sacrificed for our country.
What exactly is a Quilt of Valor? A Quilt of Valor is a quality, handmade quilt awarded to a Service Member or a Veteran who has been touched by war. The quilt says unequivocally, “Thank you for your service and sacrifice in serving our nation.”
The Veterans honored with Quilts of Valor, on November 5, included:
George William Heath(“Bill”) – Army – Rank O-6, Dates Of Service (1958-1986) – Vietnam – During his Army career he was stationed/deployed in various locations including, California, Texas, New Jersey, Korea, and Vietnam.
Chris Abernathy – Army – Rank – O-2, Dates Of Service 1969 thru 1971 – First Lieutenant, Medical Supply Officer. Tooele Army Depot, Tooele, UT Medical Service Corps, Pleiku Vietnam, 71st Evacuation Hospital. DaNang, Vietnam, 95th Evacuation Hospital. Chris was nominated for a Quilt of Valor by his friend George Kuper who attended a Quilts of Valor event in Long Beach.
John “Curt” Wilson – Army – Rank O-2, Dates Of Service 1968-1972 – Fort Polk, Louisiana – basic training. Vietnam service with 101st Airborne Division, C Co., 1st Bn., 502nd Infantry Brigade. Served as Infantry Platoon Leader and Battalion S-2. Awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, and the Bronze Star Medal.
Harold E. Setser Jr. – Air Force Veteran, served in Vietnam. 1966-1970.
William Harris – Navy – Rank at discharge, E-9 – Dates Of Service – 1969 -1994 (Vietnam & Cold War) 1970 to 1973 – Served aboard USS SHELTON (DD-790), making WestPac deployments during the Vietnam War. From 1973 to 1975 he was assigned to Base Security onboard Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. Then, from 1975 to 1976 served as AntiSubmarine Air Controller onboard USS SEMMES (DDG-18), making several Mediterranean deployments. From 1976 to 1981, he served as Import Training Coordinator on the staff of Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Two, homeported in Charleston, S.C., making several Mediterranean deployments and participating in numerous Fleet and NATO Exercises; promoted to Chief Petty Officer in December 1980. From 1982 to 1984, he served as Hyman Resource Management Specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and he completed his Bachelor of Science degree. From 1985 to 1986, he served as Assistant Officer in Charge onboard USNS NEOSHO (T-AO-143) deployed to the Mediterranean; promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer. From 1986 to 1989, he served as Training Officer and Command Senior Chief on the staff of Commander, Tactical Air Control Group Two, Little Creek, Va.; promoted to Master Chief Petty Officer; completed his Master’s Degree in Justice Administration. From July 1989 to December 1990, he served as Command Master Chief onboard USS RICHMOND K TURNER (CG-20). Finally, from 1991 to 1994 he served onboard Naval Air Station Memphis, Tenn. as Military Division Officer for Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Department and as Chief Master At Arms for Naval Air Station Memphis.
Brent Shepherd serves Active Duty in the Navy with a Rank of E-6. Dates Of Service 2002 to 2023. Duty Station – 2002 to 2008 NMCB 74/ Gulfport, Miss.; Jan.- Aug. 2004 – Al Fallujah, Iraq; Sept./Nov. 2004- Pensacola, Fla. – Hurricane Ivan- Humanitarian; Oct.- Mar. 2005 – Al Taqaddum, Iraq; Feb.- Aug. 2008 – Camp Morrell, Kuwait; 2009-2011 NAS Millington, Tenn. 2012-2017 ACB2 Virginia Beach, Va.; 2018-2020 NMCB 1/ Gulfport, Miss.; 2020- 2023 NCG 2/ Gulfport, Miss. Brent is an electrician in the Navy Seabee, not only has he served three tours in the Middle East during wartime, but he has also done humanitarian work all over the world. Starting with Hurricane Ivan in Fla., then the Dominican Republic after Hurricane Sandy, Digging four water wells in Guatemala, and disaster relief on multiple islands after the super typhoons in the Guam/Mariana Islands.
Elmer “Bud” Fiedler – Navy, Rank at discharge, E-6, Dates Of Service 1961-1969. From his granddaughter, “My grandfather, Elmer or “Bud” as most people call him, enlisted while still in high school. His job at the start was a Jet Mechanic and at the time of his medical discharge, he was a Systems Analyst. He was a temporary E-7 (Chief Petty Officer) and permanent E-6 (Petty Officer First Class). His first duty station was Anacostia in Washington D.C., then stationed for a short time in Millington, Tenn., before being stationed in Rota, Spain for three and a half years. His final duty station before getting out of the Navy was in San Diego, Calif. During his time in the Navy, he was deployed to Vietnam three times. His first Squadron was VF121 (Tntenance officer, and pilot of many different types of aircraft.
James Lindley – Army Veteran – Rank at discharge, E-5, Dates Of Service, 1968 to 1970 in Vietnam. Duty stations included Fort Campbell, Ky., Fort Polk, La., Vietnam, and Fort Hood, Texas.
James Hillman – Marine. Rank at discharge E-4. Dates Of Service, 1954_1977. Duty Stations – Millington, Tenn.; Atlanta, Ga., Jackson, Miss.; Camp Pendleton, Calif.; Okinawa San Francisco, Calif.; Vietnam, and Jacksonville, N.C. – Major Hillman began his military service as an enlisted man. During Vietnam, he was given a temporary commission. His commission was then made permanent. James served with a CAP unit. Due to exposure to Agent Orange, his health has suffered greatly and we pray for him as a VFW and Auxiliary. His daughter Debbie nominated him and has this to say, “My father never complains about his health and tackles each day with a sense of humor and gratitude for another day with his family. Major Hillman is a kind and good man who has sacrificed time with his family, his physical health, and his mental health for his country. It means the world to him to be acknowledged for his service to our country. Thank you for presenting him with a Quilt of Valor.”
Brothers, Noel Paul Hammer, Sr., (also known as “Jack”) and Michael Francis Hammer, served in the Marines from 1969 to 1971, with the same duty stations during the Vietnam War. They started at Camp Lejeune and then went on to Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan. When afloat, the Battalion Landing Team 39 went to South Korea, the Philippines – Subic Bay, and Vietnam – within the 3-mile limit coastal waters, ready for action. Both brothers were sent to help with typhoon relief efforts in Cambodia and also in Calcutta, India. The Hammer brothers served in humanitarian efforts as first responders. The 1970 Bhola cyclone (Also known as the Great Cyclone of 1970) was a devastating tropical cyclone that struck East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh) and India on November 12, 1970. It remains the deadliest tropical cyclone ever recorded and one of the world’s deadliest humanitarian disasters. At least 300,000 people died in the storm, possibly as many as 500,000. The Hammer brothers were also held over their RTD date to serve a special operation in North Vietnam – Operation Lam Sum.
Fred Heyer – FOREVER YOUNG ORGANIZATION – Served in the Navy from 1945 to 1948 during WWII. He served in the Pacific Theater on a minesweeper, the USS Clamour, which also was an escort ship for troop transport. His rank at discharge was E-5.
John Weiman – an Air Force Veteran who served from 1950 to 1971 in Korea and Vietnam, with a Rank of O-4 at discharge. His duty stations included bases in the U.S., England, and France. He was an engineer, heavy maintenance officer, and pilot of many different types of aircraft.
If you would like more information about The Sewing House Quilts of Valor Volunteers, visit their website, at https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesewinghouseqov/.
Are you a quilter? Would you like to donate patriotic blocks, tops, piece quilts, or longarm for the 2024 QOV outreach? (or donate to help fund this 501c3 nonprofit organization?) Please join the volunteer Facebook group – The Sewing House Quilts of Valor Volunteers or email [email protected] for an online donation link.
