Pieces of gratitude
The nine local veterans who received Quilts of Valor to recognize their military service were, from left, Roger Ruehling, Stanley Honsey, Russell Cumberland Jr., Jim Leonard, Joe Falteysek, Robert Spatenka, Tom Kuntz, Eugene Kispert and Harold Kerkvliet. Staff photo by Kay Fate
April Paxton repeated herself nine times in about 30 minutes, but it was special, every time.
“The Quilt of Valor Foundation wishes to recognize you for your service to our nation. We consider it our privilege to do so. Though we may never know the extent of your sacrifice to protect and defend the United States of America, we award you this Quilt of Valor as an expression of gratitude from a grateful nation.”
The words were on a certificate presented to the nine veterans who were honored Sept. 19 by the Exchange Club of Owatonna, and Paxton read it to each of them as they stood draped in a handmade quilt.
“We want you to know they represent more than just our thanks,” she said of the gifts. “They are a tangible reminder of the impact you’ve had on our lives and our nation.
“They are a warm embrace from a grateful community, offering you a symbol of comfort and peace from all of us.”
It was an embrace denied to many of them when they returned from an unpopular war in Vietnam.
To that end, Paxton later asked all Vietnam veterans present to come forward to receive a lapel pin, commemorating their service. It was followed by a lengthy standing ovation.
The Quilts of Valor Foundation is a national non-profit founded in 2003 by Catherine Roberts, whose son was serving in Iraq at the time.
She had a dream “as vivid as real life,” Roberts has said. She saw a young man hunched over on the side of his bed in the middle of the night, surrounded by war demons, “and the permeating feeling was one of utter despair.”
In the next moment, the soldier was wrapped in a quilt, and his demeanor had changed from despair to hope and well-being.
The message of Roberts’s dream, she said, was that quilts bring healing.
And so it began. The first Quilt of Valor was awarded to a young soldier from Minnesota in November 2003 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Through July 31, 2024, more than 390,000 quilts have been presented to veterans.
They are all handmade, with a top, batting and backing, and must be machine- or hand-quilted. They are labeled with the name of the service member.
The quilts for this year’s local veterans were made by Lynn Krause, Candi Schafer, Lauri Jensen, Valery Robertson, Mary Woodhill, April Paxton, Pam Mikeworth, Nancy Stewart and Lynda Paxton. While most are local, one came from Oklahoma and another came from New York.
The nine recipients are:
Joe Falteysek, who served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966-1969 and retired as a sergeant. He was stationed in Germany and Italy, where he worked as a weapons mechanic, including attaching bombs to aircraft.
Jim Leonard, who served in the U.S. Army from 1968-1971 and retired as a sergeant E-5. He was stationed in Vietnam, where he was assigned to order, distribute, and repair electronic equipment.
Eugene Kispert served in the U.S. Navy from 1950-1954 at a naval base in Maryland as aircraft maintenance, plane captain and flight crew, as well as anti-submarine patrol on the East Coast. He retired as an AV-2.
Harold Kerkvliet was in the U.S. Army from 1950-1952, serving in Korea as a radio operator of Signal Corps 226. He retired at the rank of corporal.
Roger Ruehling served in the U.S. Air Force from 1971-1977 and was stationed in Vietnam, where he worked in military intelligence as an analyst, and briefed generals. He retired as a captain.
Russell Cumberland Jr. was in the U.S. Marines from 1967-1969. He was stationed in Vietnam, where he served as an 81mm mortarman and support for the infantry. He retired at the rank of corporal, saying, “my country called me to serve and I am proud to have done so.”
Thomas Kuntz was a member of the U.S. Air Force from 1963-1971. He was stationed in the Philippines, California, Utah and England, where he provided aircraft support for Europe. He worked with T-39 aircraft, which flew VIP personnel to Vietnam. He retired as a staff sergeant.
Robert Spatenka served in the U.S. Army from 1950-1953, and was stationed in Korea and Japan as a munitions expert. He had achieved the rank of corporal when he retired.
Stanley Honsey was in the U.S. Navy from 1965-1969, working in ship boiler rooms, including that of the U.S.S. Wright (CC-2). His travels including crossing the equator while en route to Uruguay for President Johnson. He retired as a BT-2.