Article and Photos

by Annemarie Eveland

“My favorite subject in the world!” she said enthusiastically to me when I asked Cheryl Violin what the Quilts of Valor were. That was how we began our conversation which led to this article. I called her to find out about these Quilts of Valor that I had been hearing about for the Veterans’ presentation in Our Rim Country at the Elks Club in Payson on August 24th.

Cheryl continued, “The history of the beginning of the Quilts of Valor (QOV) was in 2003 with a lady named Catherine Roberts who had a son in the service. Nat was a gunner deployed in service in Iraq. She constantly worried for the safety of her son. She felt she lived every day as though she was ten seconds away from a panic attack.”

One night Catherine had a dream which was as vivid as life. She saw a young soldier sitting on the edge of his bed in the middle of the night hunched over in deep despair. She said she saw war demons all around him pushing him down into utter despair. It was like watching a very bad scary movie. Then the scene changed somehow, and he was still sitting on the side of his bed, but he was covered with a quilt. And his whole demeanor changed to one of comforting and healing. His whole appearance changed suddenly to feelings of hopefulness. She took this as a definite sign for her to do something as she interpreted her dream.

She took her first quilt to the Walter Reed Medical Hospital. There was a chaplain who helped her to present that quilt to a wounded soldier who had just lost his leg in Iraq. The gesture of caring kindness touched him and comforted him greatly. She was affirmed that this was a good thing to make for the soldiers who had been wounded in the service of their country.

The idea of comforting quilts took hold quickly. Soon an organization formed to unite people who wanted to help keep this good dream alive. And the Quilts of Valor Foundation was born.

I was told that this kind nonprofit organization has over 11,000 members in their Quilts of Valor Foundation, throughout the United States. Although, I also learned there are similar groups in various countries around the world now. Their mission statement reads: “Our mission is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts 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, sacrifice, dedication and valor in serving our nation.” It also says, we honor you for your service, sacrificing all you held dear to stand in harm’s way in crisis, to protect us.” Each part of the quilt has symbolic meaning. Freedom is not free, and the cost is paid by our veterans like the ones honored in this ceremony 

They like to award these quilts in a ceremony to add the importance of it. At these ceremonies, there is a welcome introduction, then the honor guard present colors, a prayer, a moment of respectful silence for those who have not returned, the pledge of allegiance comes next, and an explanation for those who can’t return, followed by what the Quilts of Valor mean. Then each person to receive one is called up and wrapped in their special made quilt. At the end of the ceremony, there is a reception line to thank them for their service. Also, the recipients stand, one by one, in front of a quilt that says, “Welcome Home!” and their pictures are taken. If the recipient does not want to be awarded in a group ceremony, we make other arrangements for them maybe for a private award in their home.

To use the term Quilt of Valor, Quilts of Valor or QOV, the quilt must be a specific size, must have a label with required information, it must be awarded (it is not a gift) and it must be recorded.

Cheryl said, “My group’s name is Heart 2 Heart Quilts. We meet once a month and cut out patterns and make the quilts. During the summer months, we meet in Overgaard the third Tuesday each month at the Fire Station. During the winter months, we meet in Tonto Basin on the third Tuesday of the month at the Desert Community Christian Fellowship Church.”

Men and women both join this worthwhile circle of quiltmakers. When one receives a quilt, they are presented also with a certificate and pillowcase from QOV. The certificate includes the recipient’s name, service, and award date.

I was interested to find out that the number of quilts made so far is almost 400, 000! On the QOVF website, the number of quilts awarded just in July shows 2,958, the total for 2024 so far is 18,663 and their lifetime total so far has been 392,057.

I asked Cheryl how someone could get more information about QOV (Quilts of Valor), and she said a good source is their website: QOVF.org (Quilts of Valor Foundation.) There are two ways to join the foundation, there is a $10.00 fee to join an existing group or a $40.00 fee to join as an independent member. She added her phone number:

480 229-1486.

For their quilts they always need batting (the foundation recommends an 80/20 blend), thread, financial contributions, fabrics (100% cotton appropriate for a patriotic quilt.) A good way to think about the fabric colors and design is to look at the different services uniforms and colors. The foundation quality statement requires 100% cotton fabrics, and they test them to make sure they don’t fade out with laundering.

The meeting room was filled as our program to present Quilts of Valor began Saturday morning.

I could see how important this event was for the makers of the quilts, the recipients of the Quilts and all the rest of us who came to support soldiers in the ceremony.



At the break, I heard that one service man said, “We really appreciate this recognition today. Often when we come home from serving our country, not only would I not get appreciation for serving in Vietnam, I feel we was jeered, screamed at and ignored. This is the first time I feel we have been recognized and thanked.” So, in the future, perhaps we can do our part when we see a service person, walk up to them shake their hand and say, Thank you for your service!” They’ll love you thanking them, and you will feel good too!