Quilts of Valor comfort veterans

By DAVID GUNTER

Feature correspondent

SANDPOINT — Many of them came home from war to no acknowledgment at all. Those who served in World War II doffed their uniforms and donned civilian clothes, getting right back to the work of life at home.

Veterans who returned from Korea were greeted with a similar, nondescript homecoming, while those who went to Vietnam sometimes felt that fulfilling their duty was considered a black mark against them.

Is it too late for a thank you and a kind embrace? Not for a group of Sandpoint-area quilters, who have created and presented more than 25 personalized quilts to give to veterans in honor of their service. The national program — known as Quilts of Valor — enlists quilt makers to put together and give away these symbols of comfort and appreciation.

“Somebody on one of the quilting sites wrote something about Quilts of Valor and I said, ‘OK — I’m in,’” said Kary Miller. “There are a lot of vets in my family.”

Miller, along with fast friends Carolyn Inge, Jeannie McMunn and Mary Berryhill, has been part of this four-woman posse since back in the days when they all worked at the Bonner County Daily Bee together. Though they have all since retired, the nickname they earned lives on.

One of their younger co-workers at the newspaper affectionately referred to them as “the crazy old ladies.” Far from being offended by the moniker, the four pals adopted it, celebrated it, plastered it across T-shirts and on the labels they now attach to their sewing work.

Today, the ladies put much of their creative emphasis on making quilts for local veterans. They’ve had plenty of training, having sewn donations for Kinderhaven, Blue Haven and “a ton of baby quilts for the hospital,” Miller said.

For Quilts of Valor, they use patriotic design themes provided by the organization and put together finished pieces that are placed in an accompanying “presentation case” — a pillowslip that matches the quilt’s pattern. Increasingly, these crazy old ladies have been doing the award presentation themselves as a personal way to express their gratitude.

“It’s just such a patriotic thing,” McMunn said.

“They get very emotional,” Inge replied when asked how these awards affect the recipients.

“It’s hard for us, too,” said Miller. “I always have tears running down my cheeks.”

One presentation sticks out in their minds. After getting tips on who might benefit from the quilts from Bill Stevens, the commander of local VFW Post 2453, the women later surprised him with an award of his own. The ceremony was a solemn affair.

“We thought of Bill because he’s involved in so much for veterans,” said Inge. “He was very grateful.”

“It was quiet,” Miller said of the moment when the commander accepted the quilt. “He had his head down and he was speaking in a whisper.”

“He mentioned that it was for the guys he knew that didn’t come back,” McMunn added.

So far, the ladies have made and presented 26 Quilts of Valor awards to area veterans, with terms of service that range from World War II up to present-day conflicts.

“And we’re working on number 27,” said McMunn. “We’d like to do a lot more. And we can — I’ve got more material than I could ever use in my lifetime.”

“She’s basically got a Jo-Ann’s (fabric) store in her home,” Miller quipped.

Berryhill, who the other three say they recruited to join the fun, is the only member of the crew who doesn’t quilt. Instead, they enlisted her talents as a journalist and photographer to help them get the word out about their work for veterans in hopes of reaching out to more of them.

“When we started doing quilts, Mary wanted to find a way to be part of it,” said Inge.

“So now she does our PR work — and we need it,” McMunn said.

Serious when they need to be, the four friends are more prone to levity when they get together to quilt. So what does it take to become a Crazy Old Lady? Are there certain qualifications or a secret code of conduct? The idea generates a round of laughter.

“There is none,” Inge said. “But it usually involves wine.”

“And food,” Miller said. “And laughing.”

“It’s companionship and being with friends,” McMunn summarized.

Visiting with these quilters promises a fast-paced romp of goofiness, constant crosstalk and entirely random humor. Mention Quilts of Valor, though, and they are all business.

“We make these for anybody who has been touched by war,” Miller said. “But especially Vietnam, because they were never thanked.

“This is a thank you, a hug and a welcome home.”

The quilters welcome recommendations for Quilts of Valor awards and invite interested individuals to contact them by e-mail at: carolyninge@gmail.com

To learn more about the national program, visit online at: www.qovf.org.