Thirteen veterans who reside at StoneRidge Senior Living in Mystic and served in World War II, the Korean Conflict or the Vietnam War have been honored for their military service. 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 on Saturday, Nov. 13.

The Patriots Quilt project was started by resident Rita Jolly, 87, 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,” she said, so she assembled a group of quilters she knew and then extended the invitation to others.

In total, six quilters participated this year.

“It’s important to me to honor our veterans because of the sacrifices they made,” added Jolly in a release. “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.”

Each quilt is a piece of art, lovingly handmade and gratefully received. Pfc. John Cal Beggs was only 18 when he enlisted in the Army. He was a platoon runner for the second platoon of Company G, 407th Infantry Regiment, 102nd Infantry Division and served in northern Germany. “On the first of December of 1944, I stepped in the way of a German shell fragment and that ended my infantry career,” he said in the release.

The thirteen veterans who were honored are:

Manuel Kadish — Canadian & U.S. Army

Alfred Illinger — Navy, Seaman First Class

Leonard Greene — Navy Air Corps, Seaman First Class

Richard Gustafson — Navy Air Corps, Quartermaster Third Class

Malcolm MacLeod — Navy, Master Chief

Harry Meyer — Coast Guard, Petty Officer Second Class

Russell Adams — Army, Sargent First Class

William Clark — British Air Force & Army, In the British Air Force he was a Pilot Officer and in the Army he was a Corporal.

Ruth Walsh — Army, First Lieutenant

Gordon Willard — Navy, Lieutenant JG

Martin Duke — Army, Captain in charge of Murphy Army Hospital and the laboratory

Dexter Anderson — Army, Specialist Second Class with ISIS

Robert Livermore — Army, Private First Class