MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Quilt Guild presented 35 quilts to veterans Monday, many of whom are involved in the Joint Veteran’s Council.
During the Guild’s annual picnic at Ariel-Foundation Park, veterans were surprised with the presentations of Quilts of Valor.
Every year, the guild does a service project for the community. After a speaker came to talk to the guild last September about the Quilts of Valor, the guild decided that would be their service project, Elyce Duerr said.
“We were hoping to make maybe 10 or 12 quilts, but we ended up with 40,” Duerr said about the year-long service project.
The guild invited the honor guard to the picnic, telling them that they would be performing a flag service for the patriotic event, making the presentation of the quilts a surprise.
During her opening presentation, Jordan Robin, president of the quilt guild, said the honor guard plays an “important role in making sure we all remember and understand the importance of duty, honor, and county.” She also thanked the veterans for their service and coming to that night’s event.
“It was an amazing night. (The guild members) worked endlessly for an 11 month period,” Duerr said. The women who made the quilts were the ones who wrapped the veterans in their quilts of valor.
Over 175 people were in attendance at the picnic to witness the surprise presentation.
