Page 6 - TVTimes.10.21.18

6D — EL DORADO NEWS-TIMES Sunday, November 11, 2018
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We salute our nation’s veterans for their sacrifices that helped ensure our freedom.
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James Willett
WWII U.S. Navy
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The Freedom Quilters of El Dorado put together quilts for local veterans
By Kaitlyn Rigdon
Staff Writer
Since its local inception in 2015, the Freedom Quilters of El Dorado, a Quilts of Valor group, have presented 63 quilts to veterans.
The Quilts of Valor Foundation began in 2003 by Blue Star mom Catherine Roberts, whose son was deployed in Iraq.
Roberts began the Quilts of Valor Foundation from her sewing room in Seaford, Delaware. Her son’s yearlong deployment to Iraq provided the initial inspiration, and her desire to see that returning warriors were welcomed home with the love and gratitude they deserved, provided the rest.
The organization’s mission is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.
The first Quilt of Valor presented in Union County was to Herman Higgs, a World War II veteran. Higgs received the quilt on June 11, 2015, at the Union County Courthouse, with
El Dorado Mayor Frank Hash proclaiming the day as Herman H. Higgs Day.
There are currently 10 members in the Freedom Quilters of El Dorado group, and since last September, the group has presented 25 quilts.
Nannette Moss of the Freedom Quilters group said the national average waiting time for most veterans to receive a quilt is 12 to 18 months, but the average waiting time in El Dorado is around six months.
The group currently has 10 requests for quilts that they are working on now.
Moss said the Freedom Quilters of El Dorado was started when the state coordinator contacted her. She said the coordinator contacted her because she is a quilt shop owner. Moss added that her and Pat Bain were the two that officially started the organization in El Dorado.
Moss said they like to present the quilts in groups, but also do individual presentations, if that
See QUILTS, Page 7D
News-Times file photos
Valor: Herman Higgs, center, takes pictures with his family, local representatives from Quilts of Valor and Mayor Frank Hash after being awarded with a quilt from the Quilts of Valor program at the Union County Courthouse on June 11, 2015. Higgs was the first veteran in Union County to be awarded a Quilt of Valor from the Freedom Quilters of El Dorado, a Quilt of Valor group.
Award: William Turnage accepts his quilt and plaque from El Dorado Mayor Frank Hash at the Quilts of Valor presentation with his family on May 15. Turnage served in the Navy from April 15, 1962, to Aug. 17, 1967, and was a lieutenant.
Honored: El Dorado Police Chief Billy White was one of several veterans honored recently during a Quilts of Valor ceremony presented by the Freedom Quilters of El Dorado in July 2017. Nanette Moss, co-founder of the Freedom Quilters of El Dorado, straightens White’s quilt. White served in the Army as a staff sergeant – three tours of duty from 1986 to 1989 and was deployed to Saudi Arabia from 1997-2000 and deployed to Iraq from 2005-2007. Right, Leslie Gibbons, is being wrapped in his Quilt of Valor by Glenna Duggar, left, and Pat Bain at the July 2017 presentation. Gibbons served as a first sergeant in Southeast Asia from 1960-1964, 1970-1971 and 1991- 1992. He received numerous awards and medals including the Presidential Unit Cita- tion, five Overseas Service Bars, three Bronze Stars, three Air Medals, two Overseas Ribbons, three Army Achievement Medals, three National Defense Service Medals, four Good Conduct Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with six stars and several others. Lower left, veterans were present- ed quilts by the Quilts of Valor Group Freedom Quilters of El Dorado at the El Dorado Conference Center on May 15.
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