Local Quilts of Valor ceremony honors veterans

Nov. 28--Members of the Surry Quilters Guild followed a handshake and a thank you to veterans for their service with unique quilts during its "Quilts of Valor" (QOV) ceremony at Mount Airy First Presbyterian Church recently.

According to Guild President Debbie Stoltz, Lillie Douglas was the catalyst that got the group started on the project. Douglas got the guild information from the national QOV organization. It presented 17 quilts the first year, 18 the second year, and 15 this year. Stoltz, who characterized herself as "a Navy brat," was well acquainted with the military.

Her grandfather, Jerry Midkiff, served in the U.S. Army; her father, James P. Midkiff and brother James R. Midkiff served in the U.S. Navy; with sister Kim Brown serving as a heavy equipment operator for the Seabees; sister Anita Holbrook seeing duty as an electricians mate and Stoltz's son, Christopher, serving as a combat photographer. Stoltz's son-in-law, Matt Pait, is a submariner, nephew Josiah Cagle also serves in the Navy and her niece, Virginia Ahrens, is in the U.S. Army.

"We believe in the saying it's not how many quilts you have made, it's how many you give away," said Stoltz. She explained the quilts follow exacting heirloom standards and patriotic patterns to honor veterans.

She recalled how the group expected a small turnout at their first ceremony only to have the veterans and their families show up and pack the hall with around 83 participants.

"They (the veterans) told the most interesting stories and they were so humble," Stoltz said. "As a Navy brat I know the sacrifices made. We came away from that first event knowing this is the right thing to do and I don't see us stopping soon." Stoltz explained the quilt project is for persons touched by war and may be awarded to those other than veterans. The web site for Quilts of Valor indicates 109,000 quilts have been presented to veterans nationally.

The quilter and recipient of the quilts of valor for at the recent local ceremony included Gloria Bryant for Walter "Nick" Nichols; Donna Dobbins for John Robert Haynes; Dara Gillespie for Ronald Gillespie; Lillie Douglas for Donald Douglas; Faye H. Seal for First Sgt. Jack Leach, a Pearl Harbor survivor; Dianne Holder for Gordon Holder, National Guard veteran; Barb Steffy for Athol Stogner; Gwynda Ashburn for Craig Tesh; Bonnie Shropshire for Fox Atkins; Sandra Martin for Kenneth Martin; Margaret Layman for Unknown Serviceman whose name will be provided later by the national QOV organization; Theresa Hutchins for Kermit Draughn, a WWII veteran; Debbie Stoltz for Colonel William Grymes; Debbie Stoltz for Major Kevin Minton and Debbie Stoltz for Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Pait.

David Broyles may be reached at 336-415-4739 or on Twitter@MtAiryNewsDave.

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