Like the veterans who receive them, each quilt is unique, crafted with details that can only be appreciated upon a closer look.
Stitched by a group of volunteers, the quilts represent appreciation for Lewis County residents who’ve served in the United States Armed Forces.
“Quilts provide warmth, right? They provide warmth and comfort, which is not something that every veteran gets to feel, especially when you endure the traumas and different challenges we face,” Lewis County Veterans Specialist Heidi Palmer said Tuesday during a Lewis County commissioners meeting.
A veteran herself, Palmer received her quilt in 2014.
“So receiving that quilt reminds us that there are individuals in our community that do care, that love us and support us,” she said.
Since 2018, the Veterans Memorial Museum Quilts of Valor chapter has worked to ensure that any Lewis County veteran who wants a quilt gets one.
“We have a policy that no one that wants a quilt from Veterans Memorial Museum waits longer than a year,” volunteer Lynn Wiltzius said Thursday.
Year to date, the group has delivered 209 quilts to Lewis County veterans. Across Washington, 24 Quilts of Valor chapters have delivered 597.
“So you can tell this project is very dear to our hearts, and we’re truly dedicated to this mission,” chapter co-leader Debbie Aust said.
On Tuesday, roughly two dozen group members were on hand for the Lewis County commissioners business meeting to highlight their work and announce a countywide fundraising effort.
While the funds raised will technically buy the fabric and other needed supplies, members say the money goes toward much more.
“Quilts of Valor means a formal appreciation from a grateful nation. We honor all veterans who have served their country in times of war and peace,” Aust said.
A self-described “military brat,” Wiltzius comes from a family of veterans, with her father and brothers serving in the armed forces. While she didn’t serve, that upbringing inspired her to give back however she could.
“Military life has always been important to me,” she said. “It’s like giving back to my family.”
Commissioners show appreciation
At Tuesday’s meeting, which included the display of five quilts the group has stitched, Lewis County Commissioner Lindsey Pollock said the group shows “a tangible recognition” of appreciation.
“I think it’s a testament to the dedication of folks in Lewis County toward our armed service members that so many have been produced,” Pollock said.
Commissioner Scott Brummer said he appreciated the chance to “highlight the good things that are going on here in Lewis County, both with the Quilts of Valor and our Veterans.”
At the meeting, Commissioner Sean Swope said veterans are the “heroes of our community and across the U.S.”
“And knowing that at such a young age, that they make that decision to serve our country knowing at any moment they could lose their life to protect and defend our freedoms, I’m just so grateful for every veteran that has made that decision,” Swope said.
Fundraising effort
Quilts of Valor has placed wooden donation boxes in four county buildings — the county commissioners chamber, the animal shelter, community development and the public health office — where they will remain until Monday. Afterward, they will move throughout the county for the remainder of November.
Donations can also be made online at https://tinyurl.com/bddezzrn.
Applications to receive a quilt can be found online at qovf.org or in person at the Veterans Memorial Museum.
After an application is received and accepted, the all-volunteer process to craft the quilt begins. Wiltzius said the time needed to make a quilt can range from a week and a half to three months.
Once completed, Wiltzius the quilt is draped over the veteran in a ceremony “to let them know we really appreciate what they’ve done.”
