Welcome to the Tar River Piecemakers Quilt Guild, 2nd Annual Quilts of Valor® presentation here at the Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences.
The Quilts of Valor® Foundation is a non-profit group of quilters from all across the United States of America. Our mission is to cover our service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor®.
In 2003, a quilter named Catherine Roberts had the idea of comforting service members with quilts during the time her son was deployed in Iraq.
Since then, over 300,000 Quilts of Valor® have been awarded here in the United States, Iraq, and Afghanistan. They are awarded in major treatment centers such as Walter Reed Hospital and Brook Army Medical Center, VA centers and facilities, and especially through personal contact like today.
Our foundation represents one human being reaching out and touching another, without judgment, with acceptance and an acknowledgment of service to our nation in very trying circumstances. We consider our quilts as one of the highest civilian awards citizens can bestow upon a Service Member or Veteran. This quilt brings you a three-part message from our hearts.
First, we HONOR you for your service, for leaving all you held dear to stand in harm’s way in a time of crisis, protecting us from the effects of war.
Second, our quilters know that FREEDOM is not free. The cost of our freedom is the dedication of lives of men and women like you, so this quilt is our way to say THANK YOU for your sacrifices.
And third, this quilt is meant to offer COMFORT and HEALING to you. It serves as a reminder that although your family and friends are not with you at all times, you are forever in all of our thoughts and our hearts.
As we come together on this meaningful occasion, we are reminded that each quilt displayed here today is not merely a collection of fabric and stitches. It represents countless hours of dedication, creativity, and love poured into every triangle, square, and binding. Each quilt tells a story—stories of resilience, honor, and the deep appreciation we have for those who have served our nation.
For those of us who have never seen combat or been in a war zone, such experiences are beyond our capacity to comprehend; but we believe the quilt we bring to you today has the ability to offer both comfort and healing.
The process of creating these quilts is a labor of love. From selecting the perfect fat quarters to the rhythmic sound of needles and thread working together, each step is infused with passion and purpose. Today, we celebrate the artistry and skill of our quilters, whose hands have transformed fabric into heartfelt tributes.
Our idea is that when you experience dark times, memories, or need the warmth of a grateful hug, you will wrap your quilt around you so it can provide the comfort we have sewn into every seam. It was made to be used by you.
Your quilt was made of the highest quality products and utilized the best available sewing and quilting techniques to honor you. As such, it can be used and laundered in typical, everyday fashion, with a little TLC.
A Quilt of Valor consists of three layers held together by its stitches. We think of the layers in this way:
The top of the quilt with its many colors, shapes, and fabrics represents the communities and the many individuals we are.
The batting is the center of the quilt, its warmth. It represents our hope that this quilt will bring warmth, comfort, peace, and healing to the individual who receives it.
The backing is the strength that supports the other layers. It represents the strength of the recipient, the support of your family, our communities, and our nation. Each stitch that holds the layers together represents love, gratitude, and sometimes the tears of the maker.
On this quilt is a label to remind all who see it how much we care. And included is a note from a quilter with their thoughts of why they make these QOVs. As of today, the story of this quilt becomes your story. We hope you will keep this quilt with you as a tangible reminder that thousands of Americans across this land are forever in your debt.
Thousands of quilters all over the US work daily to create quilts to cover warriors from all conflicts, including WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Each Quilt of Valor® is formed by loving hands that join bits of fabric together, one piece at a time.
A QOV® may be fashioned by only one or two individuals, or it may come about through the combined efforts of many women and men of all skill levels. Quilters often work together in sewing groups to create these quilts. As we quilt, we talk about our families and friends and how grateful we are to those who will be receiving our quilts when we wrap them in it.
This year, the Tar River Piecemakers Quilt Guild proudly recognizes 22 individuals with the Quilt of Valor®. Seven were presented at the Harley-Davidson event last night, and 15 more at today’s ceremony. We warmly welcome each of you to our quilting family!
And so, on behalf of the Quilts of Valor® Foundation, in recognition of your service and sacrifice for this nation, it is a privilege to serve Honor and Comfort upon you through the award of this Quilt of Valor®.
Though we may never know the depth of your sacrifice to protect and defend the United States of America, as a gesture of gratitude from a grateful nation, we award you this Quilt of Valor®.
Together, let us honor those who have served and continue to serve. May this presentation inspire all of us to carry forward the spirit of camaraderie and compassion that quilting embodies.
