Five local veterans received patriotic quilts at the Peoria Public Library downtown branch on Nov. 18. The national organization Quilts of Valor presents hand-sewn quilts to veterans touched by war to bring them comfort and to show appreciation of their service, said Jan Copeland, one of two Illinois state coordinators for the organization.

“We honor you for leaving all that you hold dear to stand in harm’s way in a time of crisis, protecting us from the effects of war,” Copeland told the recipients during a brief ceremony. “The cost of our freedom is the dedication of the lives of men and women like you. And this quilt is meant to say thank you for your sacrifice.”

Copeland wrapped the veterans in quilts and gave them each a hug.

The honorees were Lawrence McGhee of Peoria (U.S. Army), Timothy Moore of Morton (U.S. Army), Arlyn Musselman of Delavan (U.S. Army), Andre Petty of Peoria (U.S. Navy) and Michael Ragan of Washington (U.S. Navy).

The event took place in the art gallery on the lower level of the library where an exhibit of veterans’ art is also on display.

After the ceremony Moore recounted how a young woman had spit in his face upon his return from Vietnam. He said receiving the quilt gave him “a kind of warm feeling to realize that there are still people here in the states that recognize what we did and what we gave up.”

The idea for the quilt event grew out of a separate project involving area high school students. Jennifer Scott-Dewar of the Peoria County Genealogical Society worked with the principal of the Peoria Regional Learning Center, Teresa von Rohr, to have the students at the school collect oral histories from veterans. 

Scott-Dewar said she wanted to show appreciation for the veterans’ work in the school and approached a local quilting group, Gems of the Prairie Quilters, about making small squares to present to the them. The quilters told her about Quilts of Valor, whom Scott-Dewar contacted to arrange the ceremony.

When Scott-Dewar told the veterans she wanted to honor them with Quilts of Valor, she said their responses were that they hadn’t done anything deserving.

“Yes, you have,” Scott-Dewar said she told them.

Scott-Dewar had help convincing the veterans to accept the honor from at least one wife. Moore, the Vietnam veteran, said his wife told him he had to go to the ceremony.

“I do deeply appreciate it,” Moore said.

To nominate a veteran to receive a Quilt of Valor, go to qovf.org.