Bundled by gratitude: Local veterans honored with Quilts of Valor
CAROLYN BOSTICK | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 3 months AGO
Dale Van Meter receives his quilt of valor for his service in the Korean War.
CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press
Ryan Bledsoe salutes the flag as a member of the Idaho Veterans League honor guard during a presentation of Quilts of Valor Monday at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Post Falls.
Herman Shoopman reacts to seeing his personalized quilt of valor Monday morning at the Idaho State Veterans Home.
Carolyn Bostick has worked for the Coeur d’Alene Press since June 2023. She covers Shoshone County and Coeur d'Alene. Carolyn previously worked in Utica, New York at the Observer-Dispatch for almost seven years before briefly working at The Inquirer and Mirror in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Since she moved to the Pacific Northwest from upstate New York in 2021, she's performed with the Spokane Shakespeare Society for three summers. | December 17, 2024 1:08 AM
POST FALLS — Herman Shoopman couldn’t contain his reaction to seeing his quilt of valor, covering his face in excitement and emotion, when Kathy Whetstine and Giannine O'Connor draped it on him.
Shoopman is an Air Force veteran who served from 1946-49. He was honored along with eight other veterans Monday morning at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Post Falls.
Nationally, over 400,000 quilts have been bestowed on veterans and active-duty military members for their service. The local branch of the nonprofit awarded seven residents and two staff members with quilts.
Kayla Main of Quilts of Valor stated that the quilts are considered a “priceless award.”
“Each quilt of valor says unequivocally, thank you for your service,” Main said. “You served us. Now it’s time we served you.”
Located on the back of each quilt is the name of the veteran, the branch of the military they served in and the awards they received.
Several of those being honored stated that they were now bundled up against the cold, having been fortified by the physical and emotional manifestations of gratitude and comfort.
“You have greatly and proudly carried the burden of defending and protecting your country, and for that there are no words to express our gratitude,” Main said.
Quilts of Valor recipients:
Kenneth Casalicchio served in the Navy from 1965-68.
Gordon Lingle served in the Army from 1959-61.
Michael Rasmussen served in the Marines from 1966-70.
Herman Shoopman served in the Air Force from 1946-49 and was awarded an occupation medal with Germany clasp and the WWII victory medal.
Dale Van Meter served in the Army from 1951-52.
Jay Youngblood served in the Army from 1946-48 and received the WWII victory medal.
Troy Chandler served in the Army during Desert Storm from 1988-91.
Ronnie Cooper served in the Army in the Iraq War from 1991-08.
Ryan Bledsoe salutes the flag as a member of the Idaho Veterans League honor guard during a presentation of Quilts of Valor Monday at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Post Falls.
Herman Shoopman reacts to seeing his personalized quilt of valor Monday morning at the Idaho State Veterans Home.ARTICLES BY CAROLYN BOSTICK
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