Quilts honoring our veterans

You might say the lower level of Doug and Deb Stumbo’s home on Mulberry Street has been re-purposed. For several years rambunctious preschoolers occupied the space. Rambunctious may not aptly describe the current group that meets there, but like their predecessors, they keep busy.

Ogden Quilt of Valor (QOV) Piecemakers gather each Wednesday morning. Some pull up chairs alongside the stretched quilt, and with needle in hand begin stitching. Nearby, a sewing machine purrs as a quilt top comes together. A stack of folded quilts, quilted and ready to be bound, are located at the end of a counter. Upon completion, the quilts will be presented to area veterans in gratitude for their service.

QOV Piecemakers was organized in 2017 and has grown to 17 members strong. Since April of 2017 they have awarded 87 quilts, and hold a special celebration during Ogden Fun Days at which time most of the quilts are presented.

The group begins meeting in September, and after the quilts are presented in June, they take a couple months off before starting back up.

Although the labor is voluntary, there are costs incurred - mostly supplies, but some quilting expenses as well. So when John Jones approached them about a donation, they of course, were thrilled. The $1,000 will go a long way in continuing their humanitarian effort.

Jones had been an active member of the Boone County Freedom Flight Committee and when the organization dissolved earlier this year, he suggested a portion of the leftover funds be donated to the Ogden Quilts of Valor group. Many of their quilts have gone to Freedom Flight participants.

In honor of our county’s veterans, three granite benches were ordered, one for each of the communities of Boone, Madrid and Ogden.

Monies have also been set aside for up to 10 more Boone County veterans wishing to go on an honor flight. These funds have been sent to the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight organization (Fort Dodge) where more honor flights are scheduled. For more information or an application, contact chairman Ron Newsum at 515-571-4477 or email rjnewsum@mchsi.com
Flight applications are also available online on the Webster County Veterans Affairs website (webstercountyia.org) 

Jones says the remaining funds will be divided among Boone County’s VFW and American Legion organizations.