Program provides Quilts of Valor to area veterans

An event honoring area veterans returns to the Bob Ruud Community Center on Friday, Nov. 12 at 10 a.m.

Denise Kearl, group leader for Valor Quilters of Nevada, said the group creates handmade quilts for Silver State veterans.

Last year, more than two dozen local veterans were recognized for their valor and sacrifice through the program.

Though Quilts of Valor has been in existence since 2003, Kearl became involved with the program after visiting a meeting in Las Vegas in 2014.

Their mission, she said, is to provide service members and veterans touched by war, with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.

“We will be awarding 35 veterans with Quilts of Valor,” she said. “I think this is wonderful because we have a very large veteran population here in Pahrump and Nye County. They and their families are very appreciative of this gesture.”

Kearl said the chosen veterans’ names are submitted to the national organization by their respective families and friends.

Once the request is approved, the national organization notifies Kearl, who then enlists members of the group to create the quilts.

“There’s about 25 members in my group who are making those quilts,” she said. “As far as our ceremony on Nov. 12, I’ve only received confirmation from about 20 of the veterans but I hope all 35 will be in attendance. The oldest recipient that we have right now is a World War II veteran who is 92 years old.”

During the first Quilts of Valor presentation last year, Kearl and her group bestowed a quilt to a 94-year-old Pahrump resident who served in the United States Navy during the Second World War.

“Her name is Pauline Pavlick, and she was very pleased and very grateful to be presented with the quilt.”

For additional information on the Quilts of Valor program, contact Kearl at 775 537-6477.

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @pvtimes