Quilts of Valor awarded to Hickory firefighters

Over the weekend of May 17 and 18, five Hickory Fire Department firefighters, who are also Veterans, were awarded Quilts of Valor (QOV) by members of the Catawba Valley Quilters' Guild. These brave men have served in our nation's military and returned home to continue service in our community.  

Kyle Benfield (US Marine Corps), Shelby Brittain (US Air Force), Casey Caywood (US Marine Corps), Jason Hill (US Marine Corps), and Anthony Smith (US Marine Corps) received quilts.  

The Quilts of Valor Foundation (QOVF) is a national, nonprofit organization whose mission is to cover Service Members and Veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor in gratitude for their military service to the United States of America. Since 2003, members of QOVF have awarded over 410,000 Quilts of Valor to Veterans and Service Members in the United States, Germany, Iraq, and Afghanistan. More than 11,000 QOV members span the 50 states as individuals and groups. Just over 750 Quilts of Valor have been made with love and gratitude by local quilters and awarded to local Veterans.

To learn more information about the Catawba Valley Quilters' Guild, please visit www.catawbavalleyquiltersguild.com or join them at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hickory on the second Thursday of each month at either 10 a.m. or 6:30 p.m. for regular meetings. Check the website "Events" page for Mission Day dates each month.

To find more information about the Quilts of Valor Foundation or to nominate a Veteran or Service Member to receive a QOV, please visit www.qovf.org.

Pictured above (left to right) are Carol Carmen, Amanda Truett, Casey Caywood (US Marine Corps), Anthony Smith (US Air Force), Shelby Brittain (US Air Force), Kyle Benfield (US Marine Corps), Brian Carswell (Deputy Chief), and Lori Skinner. 

Pictured below (left to right) are Susan Bisulca, Amanda Truett, Carol Carmen, Jason Hill (US Marine Corps), Lori Skinner, and Dotty Williams.