By Janice McIntyre
City Editor
EL DORADO — Two local World War II veterans – George Crosley and George Washington Nunley, both of El Dorado – were presented with Quilts of Valor by members of the Freedom Quilters of El Dorado, Nannette Moss and Pat Bain, during ceremonies held at the veterans’ homes earlier this week.
At 11 a.m. on Thursday, several more veterans – who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Desert Storm – will be presented Quilts of Valor at the El Dorado Conference Center. Everyone is invited to attend this ceremony to honor veterans as they receive their Quilts of Valor made especially for them.
Crosley and his wife, Mary Jo, welcomed Moss and Bain into their home to receive his patriotic quilt, complete with a tag sewed into the quilt which lists his branch of service and years and locations of service, along with commendations he was awarded for his years of service.
He served as a machinist mate, second class with the U.S. Navy, from 1942 to 1946 in World War II in the South Pacific in 1943. Crosley has been awarded several medals for his service to our country, including the American Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign and the World War II Victory Medal.
Nunley also served in World War II in the Army in 1945 and was a corporal.
The Freedom Quilters of El Dorado started in 2014, and after Thursday’s upcoming award ceremony, members of the Freedom Quilters of El Dorado will have presented 39 quilts to veterans in Union County, Moss said.
Materials to make the quilts cost about $250 per quilt, Moss said and explained that monetary donations and gifts of fabric are always welcome and needed to continue to sew and piece together patriotic quilts for veterans. Moss said the quilts are presented to “cover veterans in love” and let them know that their service to our country is appreciated and has not been forgotten.
The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing quilts.
The National Quilts of Valor was founded by a “blue star” mom, Catherine Roberts in October 2003. With a son deployed in Iraq, Roberts said she often felt “only 10 seconds away from panic” and she had a vision of her son struggling with his war demons in the early morning hours. She said she then saw him wrapped in a quilt which not only provided warmth and comfort, but memories of home and those that loved him.
Moss said in 2014, the Arkansas Quilts of Valor coordinator contacted her to ask if she would consider forming a local group of Quilts of Valor. Together Moss and Bain decided to accept the call from the state group, known as “A Second Tour.” Moss and Bain chose the name for the local group, Freedom Quilters of El Dorado, because they agreed that “freedom is not free.”
Nationally awarded Quilts of Valor, as of Dec. 7, 2016, were 151,073. She said the local group has a six-month waiting list for “fulfillment of Quilts of Valor,” for local veterans. People who know a veteran that has not received a quilt is urged to contact Moss.
“We are blessed to have such dedicated and giving quilters in our group to accomplish this task (sewing quilts for veterans) in such a short amount of time,” Moss said, adding that the amount of time and labor that goes into each and every quilt awarded to local veterans is “a labor of love” and “shows our respect, gratitude and love to our veterans for our freedom that we have as a result of their sacrifices, services and dedication to keeping America free.”
Moss said material for quilts can be purchased at her quilt shop – M&M Creations and Quilt Shop – at 171 Pete Mason Road in Three Creeks. She can be contacted at 870-862-0580 for more information about the Quilts of Valor program. Moss also said it takes five yards of material just for a quilt back and fabric costs on average, $11.98 to $12.98 a yard.