Since it started in 2003, more than 130,000 veterans across the country have received a unique honor to recognize their service.
The mission of Quilts of Valor seeks to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting quilts.
Six World War II veterans were honored Tuesday night at the American Legion Post 5 on Tanner Bridge Road:
• John "Pete" Adkins, who served from 1943-46 in the U.S. Navy in the Marshall Islands and was awarded the Victory Medal;
• Norbert Gerling, who served in the U.S. Army from 1941-45 and was a tank destroyer gunner fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, awarded the Bronze Star as well as the French Legion of Honor;
• Richard Gibler, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1943-46 and fought on D-Day;
• Ralph Kalberloh, who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943-45 and was awarded the POW Medal as well as two Combat Stars;
• Harold Markway, who was in the U.S. Navy from 1944-46 and served on the destroyer USS Rowan; and
• Walter McHugh, who served in the Pacific Theater in World War II from 1942-45 and in the Korean War from 1950-51. He helped rescue Marines at Chosin Reservoir and was the recipient of seven Purple Hearts.
"The Quilts of Valor Program was started in 2003 by a woman who was a quilter and had a son going to fight in Iraq," said Jan Hobbs with the Mid-Missouri Chapter of Quilts of Valor in Columbia. "She wanted him to have the feel for home when he got lonely so she made a quilt for him. He returned safely and, in 2004, that same quilt was awarded to a wounded veteran at Walter Reed Hospital. It just expanded from there to include those who fought in the War on Terror and later going to those who have fought in all wars."
Hobbs said the Mid-Missouri chapter began in 2013 with three members. It now has 19 members.
"We've awarded 45 quilts this year, which is about the same as we did last year," she said. "The quilts are patterned to be specifically detailed showing what the veteran did when they served. We want them to be used and not kept in a corner."
For those who want to find out more about the program, go to the group's national website at qovf.org or for more on the Mid-Missouri chapter go to [email protected].