Christy and Tucker with “Gracie’s Girls” Bushnell Chapter, Quilts of Valor (QOV) made a presentation of patriotic, hand-made quilts on Thursday, November 14, 2019, to veterans at the East Citrus Community Center in Inverness.  This presentation was the first of its kind in Citrus County.

First Quilts of Valor Presentation held in Citrus County

The quilts were presented in a ceremony where the service member or veteran is “covered” with his or her quilt to honor their sacrifices and service. The recipients at this ceremony were Vernon Ivey who served in the United States Air Force and Calvin Elder who served in the United States Navy, both residents of Citrus County.

The mission of Quilts of Valor is to cover service members or veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.  Each quilt is hand-made with appreciation and love in every stitch.  The Quilts of Valor Foundation began in 2003 with a dream. Founder Catherine Roberts’ son Nat was deployed in Iraq. The first QOV was awarded in November 2003 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) to a young soldier from Minnesota who had lost his leg in Iraq. The group’s mission statement reads, “The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.”

Carolyn Adanti, Community Center Coordinator at East Citrus Community Center contacted Gracie’s Girls about Citrus County participating in the Quilts of Valor program and honoring service members living in the county.  Carolyn says that more of these ceremonies are planned for 2020, and she hopes to honor many more veterans and service members who have served our country heroically.