Sun City group presents Quilts of Valor to three veterans

The quilt given to Joseph Bulla (far left) is displayed as Bud Mills and Barbara Callahan sit with their quilts as well.

Members of the Sun City Quilting Club presented Quilts of Valor to three local veterans during a special event Dec. 4 at Webb Hall at the Sun City Civic Association building.

Members of the club also are IE Quilting Angels with the Quilts of Valor Foundation, which makes and presents quilts in appreciation to veterans. Approximately 40 members and guests took part in the club's Appreciation Day for community volunteers who help with the quilts.

Recipients of the quilts represented WWII, the Vietnam War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Farville Kirkwood (Bud) Mills served in the Navy during WWII, Barbara Andrejkovics Callahan was a USAF nurse during Vietnam, and Joseph Bulla served in the Marines with four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Quilts of Valor program began in 2003 as a grassroots effort on the east coast to cover troops “touched by war” with quilts after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. It all started with one mother making a quilt for her son and it has grown to a national endeavor with over 170,000 quilts being awarded to veterans from all wars.

If anyone would like to contribute to Quilts of Valor, contact Rose Rhoads with the Sun City group (951-533-7520). To request a quilt for someone “touched by war”, contact the national foundation at www.qovf.org.