MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon resident Ken Ressler served with the U.S. Air Force from 1966 to 1970. He did one tour in Korea and another in Da Nang, Vietnam.
Members of the Mount Vernon-based Grateful Quilters of Ohio honored that service on Thursday by presenting him with a Quilt of Valor.
Belinda Hughes and her son, Derek Hughes, an Army National Guard veteran, presented the handmade quilt to the 82-year-old Ressler.
“Mr. Ressler, on behalf of the Quilts of Valor Foundation, welcome home, and thank you for allowing us to recognize you,” Belinda Hughes said.
Ressler’s wife, Sandy, his sister, Karen Drane, and family friend Cynthia Harris attended the ceremony.
The Hugheses represent over 11,000 Quilts of Valor members and volunteers across the nation.
In 2003, while her son was deployed to Iraq, a quilter named Catherine Roberts started the movement that became Quilts of Valor®. Since that time, more than 450,000 such quilts have been awarded.
The movement’s mission is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.
“A Quilt of Valor is a lifetime Award. It is not bought, nor sold, nor is it a gift. It is an award earned by you and it is priceless for that reason,” Belinda Hughes told Ressler.
“As we are stitching, we are remembering the sacrifices you made for us.”
A quilt consists of three layers.
· The top consists of many pieces, colors, shapes, and sizes of fabrics which represent the many faces of all who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.
· The center contains the batting, the part of the quilt that emits warmth. Held between the layers, it represents the comfort and healing quilters offer a veteran.
· The back of the quilt is its strength. Together with the thousands of stitches, they represent the veteran, their families, and communities – all coming together to support one another.
“This quilt is an expression of gratitude meant to thank and comfort you,” Belinda Hughes said.
“We can never know your sacrifice while keeping us safe. This Quilt of Valor says thank you for your service and sacrifice in serving our nation.”