Quilters sought to make Quilts of Valor for veterans Saturday in North Fort Myers
Quilt Lovers’ Hangout is hosting an “open sew” for Quilts of Valor National Sew Day Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Quilters will gather together to make about 12 quilt tops which will then be quilted and ultimately awarded to active or retired service personnel involved in conflicts.
A Quilt of Valor is a meaningful way to honor those who have been touched by war. It says “thank you for your service, sacrifice and valor” in serving our nation.
Each recipient of a Quilt of Valor receives his or her quilt at a “wrapping” ceremony, during which the people involved in making the quilt top and quilting the layers together wrap the recipient in a one-of-a-kind handmade quilt. Over 150,000 Quilts of Valor have been awarded to date.
As many as 20 or more quilters will gather together at Quilt Lovers’ Hangout, a quilt shop in North Fort Myers in the Hancock Bridge Square, on Saturday, and will construct quilts using patriotic fabric which was donated by Fabri-Quilt, a company located in North Kansas City, Missouri.
A special participant in Saturday’s event will be Daniel Burgess Jr., a retired Army staff sergeant who was injured in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. Burgess received a Quilt of Valor last year. His quilt was made by employees of the Sewing Boutique, which is located next door to Quilt Lovers’ Hangout.
Burgess was extremely touched by the kindness of others and comforted by the quilt given to him. He has now found peace and pleasure in piecing quilt tops and quilting them using the Gammill longarm quilting machine at Quilt Lovers’ to give to others.
He and his wife Genette helped owner Andrea Sensecqua plan this event.
For more information on Quilts of Valor, visit www.QOVF.org. For information on the Quilts of Valor National Sew Day at Quilt Lovers’ Hangout, call 239-995-0045 or visit www.QuiltLoversHangout.com.