Local quilters hand out 200th quilt during presentation to veterans

ASHEBORO — Just 20 months after the local Quilts of Valor group began, they gave away their 200th quilt on Dec. 12.

It was one of 12 quilts awarded to veterans in a ceremony at the Asheboro Senior Adults Center. Any veteran with an honorable discharge is eligible to receive a quilt of valor but the veteran must be nominated.

Jodi Haskell, the Randolph County group leader, said the names of those nominated are put on a computer list before being assigned to a quilter, who sews the decorative top layer. Then others take the cover and join it with two other layers. It’s then returned to the original quilter for binding. 

The quilt is then ready to be presented to a veteran.

The award ceremonies are done mainly at the Senior Center, Haskell said, but circumstances or wishes of the awardee may take the presentation to a residence, church or nursing home.

“We usually do 12 to 15,” she said. “The most was 33 for the (Randolph County) Honor Guard. There are 45 now on our list, minus the 12 today. We’re set up to do another 12 in January.”

Haskell said one quilt normally requires 10-12 hours of work, but an especially fancy one can take 20 hours.

She said the local chapter of Quilts of Valor started in April 2023 with four members. Today there are 21 quilters, one who works from a wheelchair.

“We meet every Thursday at the Senior Center and we’re always looking for more quilters,” Haskell said. “You can just show up or call.” 

Haskell’s phone number is 336-628-2057 and her email address is joyfulllady3js@aol.com.

Upon receiving his quilt, Navy veteran Stephen Blan said, “I appreciate this, but for all those who paid the ultimate price, I feel the least of all.”

Those receiving quilts on Dec. 12, besides Blan, were Joseph Cotterion, Dennis Wojnar, Rudy Beck, Jerry Jarrell, James Ulmer, Tony Richardson, Stephen Ellington, Chadwick Ellington, Charles Burrows, Johnny Davis and Jerry Highfill.