For 10 Years and Counting, Louisiana Chapters Have Supported Quilts of Valor®

For the past decade, WoodmenLife chapters in Louisiana have partnered with the Quilts of Valor^® Foundation, a national organization aimed at providing comfort to Veterans.

Quilts of Valor was established in 2003 by Catherine Roberts, whose son, Nate, was deployed in Iraq. After experiencing a vivid dream involving a young man being comforted by being wrapped in a quilt, Roberts wanted to convey the message from her dream that “Quilts = Healing.”

The Quilts of Valor are handmade by volunteers and awarded to service members or Veterans who were touched by war.

Since the first quilt was awarded in 2003, more than 410,000 quilts have been given to Veterans across the country.

Making a Connection

Karen Hebert, Community Outreach Advisor for Louisiana, said WoodmenLife’s involvement with Quilts of Valor came after a few members of Chapter 1163 in Elmer approached her at the 2015 Jurisdictional Convention.

“Those members, who are called the Glenmora Bobbins, are actually quilters for Quilts of Valor,” she said. “They asked if we would be willing to let them do a presentation for a couple Veterans so they could show us what the organization is all about. We did that at the convention, and we had about four or five recipients.”

Then the Quilts of Valor program “took off like wildfire,” Hebert said. At the next convention, around 12 recipients were given a quilt.

During a Quilts of Valor ceremony, a spokesperson will discuss the meaning behind the quilts. The quilts are then wrapped around the Veterans’ shoulders.

A Warm Hug

Hebert said WoodmenLife began working with two quilting subgroups for Quilts of Valor in northern Louisiana.

“They had invited me to one of their ceremonies that had nothing to do with WoodmenLife — but what an amazing experience,” Hebert said. “There were probably 12 recipients, but there were about 150 people who showed up to watch.”

During a Quilts of Valor ceremony, a spokesperson will discuss the meaning behind the quilts. The quilts are then wrapped around the Veterans’ shoulders.

Hebert said the quilts symbolize a Veteran receiving a warm hug whenever they need comfort.

“These brave people have served our country and have these dark areas in their lives that, sometimes, they’re not willing to talk about,” she said. “They use these quilts as a hug to hold onto whenever they are in those quiet times. You can see on their faces what these quilts mean to them.”

All In

Over the last decade, Hebert said nearly all the 54 Louisiana chapters have at some point in time donated to or supported Quilts of Valor.

“At this year’s Jurisdictional Convention, we collected more than $4,000 for the organization,” she said. “That wasn’t even our service project — it was something we did on the side!”

Chapters can plan a Quilts of Valor ceremony tied to a holiday — like Memorial Day or Flag Day — or any other day of the year, Hebert said.

“They are having a small ceremony in Arkansas at their Jurisdictional Convention,” she said. “Hopefully it will spread and be more prominent with more than just Louisiana.”

This year, Hebert said Chapter 308 in Houma will include a Quilts of Valor ceremony during its Flag Day celebration on June 14. Other chapters have also expressed interest in incorporating Quilts of Valor in other ways.

“Our chapters here have embraced it 100%,” she said. “Recipients don’t have to be WoodmenLife members. I see this partnership thriving for years into the future because we love the program so much.”

The Quilts of Valor symbolize a Veteran receiving a warm hug whenever they need comfort.

Passion for Patriotism

Hebert said supporting Quilts of Valor directly aligns with WoodmenLife’s emphasis on displaying patriotism.

“We’re honoring our Veterans, we’re showing them love, we’re showing them respect, and they have the same values for us,” she said. “It’s just a great partnership.”

Written by: Cheyenne Alexis, Communications Strategist

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