Bellevue,
03
July
2018
|
03:13 AM
America/Chicago

Local Chapter of Quilts of Valor Foundation to Hold Quilting Event at Bellevue University

Volunteers Expected to Help Make Quilts for Military Veterans

Members of the Omaha Quilts of Valor Chapter #577 will come together on Saturday, July 7 at Bellevue University to sew and put together hand-crafted quilts that will ultimately be awarded to local military veterans through the Quilts of Valor Foundation. The event will be held in the John B. Muller Administrative Services Building from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pat Sears, coordinator of the July 7 Quilts of Valor event, said local quilters are encouraged to participate and invited to attend the day-long event. She expects several quilts, many with a patriotic theme, to be constructed throughout the day. "The process of creating these quilts is meaningful," Sears said. "Volunteers find true comfort in the act of quilting." Each of the quilts is personalized with a label that notes the recipient’s name, branch of service and conflict, and the names of the volunteers who pieced and bound the quilt.

According to Jerome Richardson, Director of Bellevue University’s Military Veteran Services Center (MVSC), the quilts represent a visible and personal "thank you" from the volunteers to military service men and women and their families. "When Quilts of Valor are presented, it becomes a symbol of comfort and healing," said Richardson.

Nationally, nearly 200,000 Quilts of Valor have been awarded to veterans and their families since 2003. Seven quilts were presented to Purple Heart recipients at a ceremony at Bellevue University last month, and the next Quilts of Valor presentation will be July 19 at the Gretna American Legion.

For more information about the Quilts of Valor event, see the Quilts of Valor Omaha Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1640484849533184/.

About Bellevue University:

Founded in 1966, Bellevue University is a non-profit, fully accredited university with more than 50,000 graduates worldwide. The University is a recognized national leader in preparing students for lifelong success with career-relevant knowledge and skills, while making college affordable. Routinely ranked among the nation’s top military-friendly and open access institutions, the University serves students at its main campus in Bellevue, Nebraska, and everywhere online. The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org) through the U.S. Department of Education.

About Quilts of Valor Foundation:

Quilts of Valor Foundation is non-profit, 501(3)c and is currently an all-volunteer organization. with a mission to cover all those service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. The organization was founded by Catherine Roberts, the mother of a veteran, in 2003. Since then, Quilts of Valor has presented nearly 200,000 hand-crafted quilts, most with patriotic themes, to veterans from all branches of the military. Local meetings are held the first Wednesday of most months at Sew Creative Qult Store, 2809 S. 125th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska. For more information about Quilts of Valor or to nominate someone to receive a quilt, go to qovf.org.