Quilts of Valor
What is a Quilt of Valor?
A Quilt of Valor® (QOV) is a quality, handmade quilt that is machine or hand quilted. It is awarded to a Service Member or Veteran who has been touched by war. The Quilt says unequivocally, “Thank you for your service and sacrifice in serving our nation.”
Here is a clip from an article about the QOV work through the Smoky Mountain Quilters Guild.
Carlie Nichols has vivid memories of growing up during the Vietnam War — specifically she remembers how poorly Vietnam veterans were treated when they returned home from combat.
“My father was in the military for 23 years and I vividly remember the way our veterans were treated when they came back from Vietnam,” she said. “I was in college and I remember saying to myself, ‘God forbid something like Vietnam ever happens again — I will not do nothing.’ Back then, there really wasn’t an avenue to do something that I felt would be positive.”
Nichols had the same feeling of helplessness after 9/11, but this time she found something meaningful to do for the troops. After reading an article in Love of Quilting magazine about a woman who started making quilts for soldiers while her son was deployed, Nichols said, “I can do that.”
She made her first Quilt of Valor in 2006 and sent it to the Blanchfield Army Hospital at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, and in 2008, she formed her own Quilts of Valor group through the Smoky Mountain Quilters Guild.
Our very own Robbie Robison is part of this team and has worked hard to present many quilts to men and women in our church and community. We are thankful for Robbie and everyone that makes this possible.