3 days ago
Honoring service with warmth: Austin veterans presented with Quilts of Valor
May 31—By Jed Nelson
Memorial Day is a day of remembering and honoring those who have passed away serving our country. It is a day where communities come together to remember those men and women that made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. It is also a day where we show respect, where respect is due.
A few weeks ago, a group of quilters from First Congregational Church of Austin made and presented four Quilts of Valor to the Donovan family. The group saw this as a perfect opportunity to honor a local military family as Memorial Day approached.
Tim Donovan, of Austin, served in the United States Air Force, while all three of his sons followed suit in serving our country. Tim Donovan Jr served in both the United States Navy and National Guard, while twin sons Phil and Dan Donovan both served in the United States Marine Corps.
The Quilts of Valor are made by those with a passion for quilting and a heart for those who have served our country.
"We give quilts to veterans to honor them for their service," group member Marlene Hannam said. "Wrapping the veterans in their quilt, it is a hug from us."
The group at First Congregational is a part of the Quilts of Valor Foundation, which works to honor any person who has served in a branch of the United States military. The group in Austin has been active for 15 years and in that time has presented numerous quilts to service members.
"Our group in Austin started 15 years ago when I retired," member Mari Jo Stanek said. "We've gone on to make at least five hundred quilts for Veterans."
The lady's group at First Congregational consists of 12 to 15 members. Each member works to craft a quilt made with love, care, and gratitude that flows from their hearts, into their hands, then finds home within the quilt.
"It's really a great thing," Hannam said. "Some vets came home to very little, so awarding them with these quilts is such an honor."
Hannam, Stanek, and other group members look to local Legions and high schools holding class reunions when finding groups of veterans to present quilts to. Once the quilt members are made aware of veterans to honor, the quilters get to work, then make the trip to present the Quilts of Valor to the veterans, often in front of their family, friends, or community members that get to witness this presentation of respect and honor.
"The happiness on their faces as we wrap the quilts around them is just amazing to see," Hannam added.
Regarding the Donovan's, the quilters did not have to worry about presenting in front of an audience. The presentation was done at home in the Donovan's backyard, where they were presented with their very own red, white, and blue Quilts of Valor.
Seeing as the Donovan presentation was in their backyard, that did not mean it was any less special to them or the quilters of First Congregational. The presentation did not forgo any of its standard rituals — that being a speech on the importance and history of the Quilts of Valor and a few words on what it means to be a veteran.
"It's really neat when a family has a father and three sons that have all served," Hannam said. "They were quite happy with the quilts."
The group also makes it a priority to branch out into neighboring communities to honor their veterans. Each year members of the group travel to LeRoy for Pheasants Forever, a nonprofit conservation organization that hosts a DAV (Disabled American Veterans) hunt which started in 2019.
"These veterans go out there and hunt pheasants," Hannam said. "Then we present them with their quilts, and they are simply honored."
The quilters of First Congregational meet every Wednesday to talk about patterns, family, and friends.
"Everybody has their own material," Hannam said. "Usually, we sew at home, but some ladies sew at the church."
But no matter where the members sew, the act of creating a quilt that will bring happiness to a veteran will always bring them together. During the creation process, the ladies can't help but discuss how grateful they are that they get to honor local veterans through their quilts. Once the quilts are presented, the group makes it known that each veteran is welcomed as a member to their quilting family.
"It's just beautiful that we get to do this," Hannam added. "We all find it to be such an honor."
