Veterans honored with handmade quilts at Barton County Memorial Park
Eight veterans were awarded a handmade Quilt of Valor today at the Barton County Memorial Park.
Six of them served during the Vietnam War.
The quilts represent healing, and each comes with a message saying 'thank you for your service, sacrifice, and valor in serving our nation.'
Recipients came from Barton, Dade, and surrounding counties.
Along with handmade, one of a kind quilts, Vietnam veterans were also presented with pins commemorating their service.
Families were invited to support their loved ones and take pictures after the quilt presentation.
Tom Shields served for 39 years, including overseas and in the National Guard.
He tells us he enjoyed seeing his classmates honored alongside him.
'I thought it was great. I had a lot of friends, classmates that were getting this honor. And I just think it's it's just amazing for all veterans to be able to do this,' said Tom Shields, who served overseas and Missouri National Guard for 39 years.
'This is such an amazing organization that does this for these veterans because they do so much for our community. And sometimes they're overlooked. So to be able to present them with this honor is incredible to be a part of,' said Brenna Morey, Quilts of Valor Foundation volunteer.
Shields hopes more veterans can be nominated and honored with a Quilt of Valor for their service.
You can learn more about how to nominate a veteran on their website, here.
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