Grove Ridge Estates in Dade City, FL honors 26 Veterans with Quilts of Valor

“I’d like to direct a question to the young lady in the room…” This expression caught my ear as the Quilts of Valor presentation was taking a brief break for someone to quickly gather up the final quilt in the ceremony. During a brief question and answer period, this phrase came floating to my ears. “The young lady…” was repeated. I looked around, hunting for someone in her 20’s or 30’s. But instead, they were referring to me!

I started laughing. Only in a room full of senior citizens at a retirement park would I be called, “The young lady in the room.” (The inquirer had merely wanted me to mention the location of our store.)

On Friday, Feb. 7, at 7:45, around 150 people gathered for a special event. Grove Ridge Estates Sewing and Quilting Club was giving away 26 Quilts of Valor to worthy recipients in their own park, Grove Ridge Estates, in beautiful Dade City, Florida.

It was a beautifully moving and carefully planned ceremony, with the mover and shaker, Brenda Dean, having made seven out of the 26 quilts.

I was invited as a representative of Quilted Twins, because the majority of our quilts had Quilted Twins fabrics. If not on the front, more than half had our backings.

These were our wonderfully talented and dedicated quilters from Grove Ridge Quilters.

Each of the quilters was invited forward to present her quilt that she had created to the veteran. On the back the group had embroidered a worthy tribute, with the men’s names, military division and the name of the quilter and the park name. Each quilt was quite different from the previous ones, even if made by the same quilter.

It was a moving tribute, as we all realized that many of these men had encountered danger, met and lived through life-threatening situations and/or struggled with the after effects of war, and fought for us, so we could be there in that room, enjoying the freedom to have such a ceremony as we did.

What a fabulous collection of veterans. These 25 men and 1 woman received beautiful quilts in honor of service to the US Military.

Honored were Dave Belanger, Dick Brown, Rodger Brown, Walt Carlson Larry Conger, Dave Dempsey, Alan Dupras, Garry Edzik, Tom Ellner, Ron Gagnon, Bernie Gedert, Charles Hinds, Len Kaner, John Kay, Jack Kidd, Jack Lancaster, Bob Mosher, Bob Oldenburg, Dick Pendleton, Bob Radke, Brian Reese, John Ritchie, Bill Stout, Harry Wagner, Carl Wolf and Ken Wolf.

It was great fun for me, as the store representative, to come into a room filled with so many skilled quilters, who were willing to share their care and craft. The ladies who quilted sat on one side of the room, while the recipients sat together on the far side from the quilters. The quilters and honorees met on the stage in the middle. Each man received a quilt and most received hugs from the generous ladies who poured their hearts, souls and abilities into the quilts that they made.

Here are the quilts in bags, ready for presentation.

 I recognized most of the quilters, and perhaps should have recognized them all. I sometimes struggle with keeping names and faces together. Whenever we’re open, it’s often like drinking from a fire hydrant. We are inundated with names, faces and projects in a short period of time. Though I have the best of intentions to remember everyone, I often forget names, unless I write them down. It was lovely to see each of these ladies in their own element, and to share in their final achievement.

Many times it was with emotion that the ladies read the tribute to “their” recipient. This caused a ripple effect throughout the room. I do not believe there were many dry eyes by the end of the ceremony.

I especially enjoyed seeing Lin Conger be able to present the quilt that she had made for her very own husband. He said that he had been banned from the room while she was creating it! he was glad to see it for the first time ever!

Below is a collection of the photos that I was able to grab. The official photographer for the event sat in front of me and I didn’t feel I should ask her to stop getting in my way, so you’ll often see her red arm, or sweater in my pictures..

Lin had put a lot of special significance into this quilt made especially for her husband.

I hope you enjoyed your trip along with me to the Quilt of Valor presentation! It was a special time! We certainly do appreciate your vets - as well as those of you who take your precious time to make them these beautiful quilts!

Do not forget - we are having a Patriotic PROMO the whole month of February - if you buy $200 worth of Americana/patriotic fabric at one time, you will get a 2.5” patriotic strips FREE.

We love helping you all honor our vets by providing good prices for your sewing needs!

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Be sure to check out what we have for you in the store!

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