Quilts of Valor honor seven Owatonna vets

Seven Owatonna veterans last week received gifts of comfort to honor their military service, during the Exchange Club’s Quilts of Valor ceremony.

Honorees Gary Stoltz, Jarrod Schmoll, Robert Mollenhauer, John F. McNulty, Todd Schwanke, Gordon Meiners, and Jim Klukas are the second group of veterans to receive the quilts, which were hand-made by quilters in Owatonna, Oklahoma, and New York. The Exchange Club launched the local program last year.

The Quilts of Valor Foundation was created by Catherine Roberts when her son Nat was deployed in Iraq. She dreamed about a soldier sitting on the side of his bed and saw how being wrapped in a quilt changed his demeanor from despair to hope.

This year marks the organization’s 20^th anniversary, emcee April Paxton said, and in that time, 345,000 quilts have been distributed. They do not represent an award or a gift, she added.

“Each stitch that holds the layers together represents love and gratitude. A quilt of valor… is an expression of gratitude to thank and comfort you.”

Veterans “have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices,” she added.

As they received their quilts, the audience learned more about each veteran’s time in the service.

• Schwanke served in the U.S. Army from 1980 to 2004, and 2011 to 2017, receiving many medals and ribbons, including Meritorious Service and Good Conduct medals.
• Meiners served in the U.S. Airforce, deployed in Viet Nam and Korea, from 1969 to 1974, and earned an outstanding unit citation during his service.
• Mollenhauer served in the U.S. Army served from 1968 to 1969 in Vietnam. He earned two Purple Hearts and three Bronze Stars, among other medals.
• Schmoll served in the U.S. Army from 1988 to 1995, deployed to southwest Asia during the Gulf War, Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield, earning Army Service Ribbon, National Service Medal, and other honors.
• Stoltz served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970 in Vietnam, earning a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and other medals.
• McNulty served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1967 in Vietnam, earning a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and other medals.
• Klukas served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970 in Vietnam, receiving a Bronze Star,  Combat Infantry, and other medals.  

Often emotional during the presentation at Torey’s restaurant in downtown Owatonna, Paxton said her father served with the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam.

“I don’t feel that we as a society appreciate and support our veterans enough,” she said. “Some chose to enter the service, while others were not given that choice and simply had to. Either way, they left their families and lives behind to serve our country for all of us. And although there is so much more, we need to be doing to help support them, for one evening, every September, we are able to honor a handful of local veterans by saying thank you and ‘Welcome home.’”

During the event, Paxton also announced the Exchange Club’s new partnership with the Department of Defense Vietnam War Commemoration. Commemorative Partners across the country have signed on to the mission of honoring 7 million Vietnam veterans and the 10 million families of all who served.

Vietnam veterans present stepped forward to receive commemorative pins to close out the Quilts of Valor event. Anyone interested in joining the effort can contact Paxton at 507-475-0817.