Your Turn: StoneRidge veterans honored by neighbors
Nineteen veterans who reside at StoneRidge Senior Living were honored for their military service on Nov. 10. Each person was presented with a quilt, created and sewn by one of their neighbors within the life plan community and gifted at a luncheon observance of Veterans Day.
The Patriots Quilt project was started by resident Rita Jolly, 89, when she moved to StoneRidge in 2018.
“When I came here I realized that there were veterans that would benefit from having quilts made to recognize their service,” so she assembled a group of quilters she knew and then extended the invitation to others. In total, four quilters and five finishers participated this year.
“It’s important to me to honor our veterans because of the sacrifices they made,” added Jolly. “They sacrificed time with their families and friends. They placed their lives in harm’s way to protect our country and secure our freedom. The Patriots Quilt Project offers recognition for all their sacrifices.”
The quilters each choose a pattern they like, and the patterns are then adapted to make them red, white and blue.
“Each quilter works on her choice of designs,” said Jolly.
Once the 5- by 6-foot quilt has been completed, batting is added, and the piece is bound on an electric sewing machine. Each quilt is a piece of art, lovingly handmade and gratefully received.
Nineteen veterans were honored:
John Allen, U.S. Navy
Joseph Benedict, U.S. Navy
Joseph Benson, U.S. Air Force
James Collins, U.S. Navy
Jack Fischer, U.S. Army Special Forces
David Goebel, U.S. Navy
Fred Heuser, U.S. Navy
Nelson Hulme, U.S. Navy
Ron Hunter, U.S. Coast Guard
Peter Littlefield, U.S. Navy
J. Tinker Myles, U.S. Navy
Bob Nelson, U.S. Coast Guard
Derick Nicholas, U.S. Army
David Parr, U.S. Coast Guard
Michael Sadlon, U.S. Army
Ed Sauers, Army National Guard
Charles Schott, U.S. Navy
John Spinner, U.S. Navy
Donald Walsh, U.S. Air Force
The StoneRidge Stone Quilters is one of 14 resident-founded social groups/committees at StoneRidge, a few miles from historic downtown Mystic.
A link to a 3-minute video of the quilts can be found at https://youtu.be/mlP-Aj5NgCk?si=pNBvOANbHW5myspe.
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