BAMBERG, Germany (March 12, 2012) -- For the past nine years, women and men across the United States are covering those touched by war.
The Quilts of Valor foundation, established by military mom Catherine Roberts in 2003, has donated more than 61,000 quilts to honor and comfort combat service members and veterans throughout the world.
Community members and Bamberg Middle High School's Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets presented 33 Soldiers with quilts for their deployed service during a ceremony here at the Bamberg Chapel Feb. 29.
"Any time an American chooses to put on the fighting uniform of their nation, they make a choice," said Chaplain (Capt.) Terri King during the ceremony. "They choose to lay down some of their basic freedoms guaranteed under the constitution to life, liberty and their own personal desires for happiness so that others may enjoy them to the fullest."
"The men and women here today represent the best of our nation and QOV is living out their calling to love us and remind us that we truly did make a sacrifice to serve and that our Nation and our God have not forgotten that service," King said.
The quilts presented at the ceremony were made and donated by a quilting guild out of South Carolina called The Beachlovin' Grannies of the Carolinas.
"There are roughly 24 active members," said Barbara Browd, a member of The Beachlovin' Grannies, in an email.
While some members do piece work, sew presentation cases or embroider, a few members contribute without the help of a needle.
"We have a lady that prints our cards that accompany every quilt that is given," Browd said. "We then have people that don't quilt or sew, but love to iron."
"Basically, our quilts come from many hearts and hands and we hope they show the love, respect and appreciation that we have for our troops," she said.
Today, The Beachlovin' Grannies of the Carolinas have donated 638 quilts in the past seven years.
"We have sent our Quilts of Valor to many veterans hospitals, including, Walter Reed (Washington, D.C), Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg (N.M.), White River Veteran Hospital in Vermont and the Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton (Calif.) as well as The Wounded Warriors Battalion at Camp LeJuene (N.C.)," Browd said. "More recently we have been sending them to Liz and Mac Petty there in Bamberg."
"Together they have seen that our quilts have been given to our wounded and war weary heroes there with our love," she said.
Browd said she has always had strong patriotic feelings.
"Being involved with QOV is the least I can do, since these young men and women are in harm's way to protect our country," Browd said. "God Bless America and those who have protected it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
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