By Sonja Kosler
Staff Writer
A group of Perham volunteers have been warming the hearts and souls of soldiers for nearly two years now, with the "Quilts of Valor" program.
In September of 2005 Jenny Caughey and Echo Dockter of Perham called for volunteers to help make small quilts for wounded service people. Now, on the third Tuesday each month, 15 to 24 people gather in the Mulligan's banquet room to work on producing 7-8 of those quilt tops each day. Others work on them in their homes and according to Echo, final quilting is accomplished by a large and "wonderful group of machine quilters."
Over 107 quilts have been sent out to Walter Reed Medical Center, Chaplain (Major) Morris involved in the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program, and Loma Linda VA Medical Center. On a recent visit to deliver quilts to Walter Reed, Carol Olson was told by Red Cross workers that they recognize the Perham quilts for their workmanship.
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"The Red Cross people said they appreciate the quality and beauty of the quilts that come from Minnesota, and Perham in particular," said Olson.
Echo has taken photographs of each quilt and Becky Stolee is keeping a scrapbook.
Area Iraq war veterans, families receive "Quilts of Valor"
Not all quilts go to strangers.
As Pvt. Lucas Schmitz was beginning his long recovery from wounds suffered in combat, a quilt was made for him. Kathy and Bob Hanson of Dent were given a quilt made to help comfort them after the loss of their son Josh. Sgt. Hanson had held and comforted the wounded Schmitz. When Kathy heard of Sgt. Greg Riewer's death, she contacted Jenny Caughey and asked that a quilt be made for his family in Frazee.
The Perham Quilts of Valor group has been contacted to help with a ceremony at the Fargo VA when North Dakota and northern Minnesota troops return home this summer. It was requested that quilts be made to present one to each Purple Heart recipient. The group has met their goal and has 60 quilts ready for the ceremony.
Back in 2005, days got a little bit chaotic with all the different activities. Now each work station table is numbered and quilt tasks follow a logical progression. The organization frees up Echo and Jenny for coordination duties. Neither one of them has an idea of the time involved in the QOV project. "We don't count time", they said.
One of the workstations is table 7, also known as "The Princess Table." When someone dubbed Mary Hall "Queen Mary", she decided that the others at the table must then be princesses. Echo Dockter (who doesn't understand why everyone doesn't own a tiara) brought some of her tiaras in for the women to wear.
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The volunteers at the Princess Table are the last ones to touch the quilts before they go out for machine quilting. They hand stitch the binding around the quilt and add the final QOV label with the message "Your service will never be forgotten."
A rewarding experience for volunteers
At the table this day none of the women have family or friends in the military. Debbie Saari of Vergas says she first came with a friend and now enjoys "volunteering for a good cause." Eleanor Fischer has been with the group since last fall and describes her involvement as "a very rewarding feeling."
Vonnie Salness has been working on the quilts for well over a year and knows she's using the time for something worthwhile and "good fellowship."
No gossip allowed on quilting day
One rule at the Princess Table - no gossip. That seems to be an unwritten rule throughout the room as volunteers work. It's actually very quiet as each one concentrates on the task at hand.
The men and women who donate time, money, and materials for the Quilts of Valor project can't keep up with the need for their comforting quilts. As Jenny says, "The war has to stop for us to catch up, but if the war stopped tomorrow we'd still not be done."
