The National Grange’s 158th Annual Convention welcomed 11 deserving veterans for a Quilts of Valor presentation last week at the Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf.
The ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 13, was led by Midwest Host Region Chairperson Kathy Baldwin, who read each recipient’s profile aloud while her son and husband displayed and presented the quilts. Ms. Baldwin is a member of the Legacy Valor Quilt Guild in Iowa.
Lexie Millikan, executive director of the Quilts of Valor Foundation, also was in attendance and participated. “It’s been great to hear about how the Grange is involved in Quilts of Valor, whether it’s making a quilt or giving a quilt or receiving a quil. It’s been heartening to hear about our partnership,” Ms. Millikan said. “One of our shared goals is to strengthen our communities.”
In the past 21 years, the Quilts of Valor Foundation has presented more than 400,000 quilts to veterans and service members. At the convention, a total of 15 quilts were slated to be presented, but four recipients were unable to attend. Their quilts will be presented at a later date.
The Quilts of Valor recipients were:
- Mark D. Zellman, Poplar Grove, Illinois, U.S. Army, 1987-1993.
- David A. Hildebrandt, LeClaire, U.S. Army, 1986-1994.
- Michael Chitwood Sr., Muscatine, Iowa, U.S. Army, 2010-2014.
- Cameron Jon Farmer, Brooklyn, Iowa, U.S. Air Force, 2011-present.
- Joseph E. Edelen, Brooklyn, Iowa, U.S. Air Force, 1967-1971.
- Brian Robert Edelen – Brooklyn, Iowa, U.S. Air Force, 2002-2005.
- Scott C. Chitwood, Davenport, U.S. Navy, 1986-1990.
- Terrance Kronfelt, Bettendorf, U.S. Army, 1970-1978.
- James Craig Benjamin, Davenport, U.S. Army, 1986-1992.
- Myron C. Peterson, Janesville, Wisconsin, U.S. Navy, 1970-1991.
- Anthony Neal Hartman, Riverdale, Iowa, U.S. Navy, 1997-2001.
- Ross John Hendricks, Bettendorf, U.S. Army, 1982-1985.
- Charles Anthony MacDonald, Bettendorf, U.S. Army, 1985-1989.
- William Wesley Tuman, Muscatine, U.S. Army, 1987-1990.
- Joshua John Gilliam, Davenport, U.S. Marine Corps, 2000-2005.
These recipients were honored for their dedicated service and commitment to their country. The Quilts of Valor ceremony is a small token of gratitude for their sacrifices.
Quilts of Valor Foundation was founded in 2003 with the goal of honoring veterans by wrapping them in a quilt, like a hug. Today, its mission is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.
The National Grange has presented Quilts of Valor at its annual convention since 2016, recognizing local and regional veterans and active duty service members. The National Grange is an official Under Our Wings partner of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. National Grange President Christine Hamp has been a member of the Quilts of Valor Foundation Board of Directors since 2022.
