Quilts of Valor

Columbine Quilt Guild is a member of the Quilts of Valor Foundation©️. Quilts of Valor is a national organization that awards quilts to veterans and military personnel who have been touched by war. Quilts of Valor represent one human being reaching out and touching another, with an acknowledgment of service to our nation. A Quilt of Valor award is an expression of gratitude and is meant to comfort veterans and service members letting them know they are forever in our thoughts and hearts.

The top of a Quilt of Valor, with its many colors, shapes, and fabrics, represents the many communities and individuals service members and veterans represent. The batting is the center of the quilt. It represents our hope that the quilt will bring warmth, comfort, peace, and healing to the veteran or service member. The backing represents the veteran’s or service member’s strength, and the support of their family, community, and our nation.

Visit the Quilts of Valor Foundation website to nominate a veteran or service member.

We Thankfully Quilt

The Quilts of Valor bee meets on the third Monday of the Month (except for December) from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the basement at St. Bernadette Parish, located at 7240 W. 12th Ave. (two blocks east of Wadsworth) in Lakewood. We would love for you to become a part of this impactful bee!

L to R: Sgt. Patrick P.; PO3 Larry C.; Cpl. Brian E.; Col. Benjamin C.; and SFC Stephanie H.

The Columbine Quilt Guild in Arvada, Colorado held an award ceremony on January 10, 2026 for five veterans. These veterans served with distinction and we were honored to be able to recognize them and their service and provide a quilt for them. It was very gratifying to see the room packed with family and friends to support each of these veterans. When a person serves in the military, their family serve alongside them and these ceremonies are for them, as well.

SFC Stephanie H. retired from the Army after 24 years of service. She was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal upon her retirement. Sgt. Patrick P. was the crew chief and gunner on Huey helicopters during his four years with the Marine Corps. PO3 Larry C. served in the Navy during Vietnam and was assigned to the Brown Water Navy during his time in country. Cpl. Brian E. is a proud Marine and served as a Huey helicopter crew chief during his four years of service. Col. Benjamin C. graduated from the Air Force Academy and spent his 24 year career as a rescue helicopter pilot, deploying six times including to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Two of the quilts provided to the veterans were made from fabric donated by a family who recently lost their mother, Laurie B., who was a quilter. Laurie's family had served in the Marines and Army so she had been a big supporter of Quilts of Valor. She asked her family to donate her patriotic fabric to a Quilts of Valor group and Columbine Quilt Guild was the beneficiary of that request. We used blocks that Laurie had gotten pieced but not yet made into a top for one of the quilts and we used strips she had cut from yardage and a white jelly roll she had in her stash to create a log cabin quilt for the second. Laurie's daughter, Kristen, and husband, John, attended the ceremony and took pictures for daughter, Grace, who was unable to attend. Kristen and John were able to meet and talk with the two veterans who received the quilts made from their gift of fabric.

On November 13, 2025, Front Range Community College's Military and Veterans Services hosted a Quilts of Valor ceremony for eleven recipients. The recipients this year included two active duty service members and three of the recipients were women. The recipients represented veterans and service members who served from the Vietnam era through the current day in the Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Army. Congratulations to them all.

Back Row, L to R: SGT Erik H., Marines; PO2 Eli L., Navy; SGT. Merri M., Army; Amn Michelle G., Air Force; SFC Rick B., Army

Front Row, L to R: PFC Juan O., Army; SrA Jayana H., Air Force.

Not Pictured: PFC Daniel S., Army; PO2 Duffy L., Navy; SGT Chris H., Army; PO2 Mark Burke, Navy

On October 11th, the Quilts of Valor bee hosted a private ceremony in Black Hawk for Spc. Mike I., a veteran who was nominated through the National QOV Foundation. Mike served in the Army during the heart of the Cold War (1959-1962). He was initially stationed at Duncanville Air Force Base with the 4th Missile Battalion, guarding underground missiles. From there, Mike was sent to Stuttgart, Germany, where he guarded the Berlin Wall, and protected East Germans defecting to the West. Mike was promoted into the Personnel Management ranks while in Stuttgart, and his duties in this position included leading military parades for officers and American and German leaders who visited the base. Mike received three promotions throughout his career and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal.

Mike turned down an offer to attend officer training school so that he could leave the Army, attend college, and get his engineering degree. As a civilian, Mike belonged to the Gilpin County VFW and American Legion, and he served as Commander for years until he stepped down four years ago. He often says it was his greatest honor to be a part of the Army in service to America.

Nearly 30 family members and close friends attended the ceremony, some traveling from out of state just for this ceremony. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren all wore matching t-shirts that said, "My favorite veteran is my Grandpa." (Who's crying...I'm not crying!)

If you know a veteran who should be nominated for a Quilt of Valor, you can find the nomination form on the QOV website.

Columbine Quilt Guild Honors Veterans

On July 14, 2025 approximately 40 Guild members attended a Quilts of Valor Award Ceremony to honor three veterans who were nominated to receive a Quilt of Valor. Each veteran was honored individually with a quilt and a certificate. A small reception was held after the ceremony to allow guild members to come and thank the veterans. These veterans were nominated by a friend or family member through the Quilts of Valor Foundation website. If you would like to nominate a veteran, please visit the Quilts of Valor Foundation website and use their Online Nomination Form.

We honor you for serving, whether in time of crisis or in time of peace. We know the cost of our freedom is the dedication of men and women like you. This Quilt of Valor unequivocally says thank you for your service and sacrifice in serving our nation.

https://www.qovf.org/nominations-awards/

Sgt. Stan B., US Air Force;

Spc. Jeff B., US Army;

Spc. Paul D., US Army

Spc. Jeff B., US Army, served with the Army's 2nd Brigade combat team, 87th Infantry Battalion with the 10th Mountain Division from 2017 to 2021, serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom. During his 2018 deployment, his company was responsible for base security and route clearance patrols, during which more than 100 IEDs were identified and removed.

Spc. Paul D., US Army, served with the Army's 25th Infantry as an 11bravo, infantry man, from 2009 to 2013, serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. During his service Paul earned his Expert Marksmanship Badge, and after coming into contact with the enemy and experiencing an IED explosion, was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge.

Sgt. Stan B., US Air Force, was stationed in Alaska, Germany, Libya, and California while serving in the Air Force from 1966 to 1970. He also served with the Colorado Air National Guard from 1976 to 1977, with a temporary assignment in Honduras.

Quilts of Valor Bee members and veterans. L to R: Gretchen Hugen, Stan B., Jessica McAdoo, Jeff B., Peg Rogers, Paul D., Irma Farrell, Maryellen Vialpando.

Front Range Community College

Honors Veteran Students and Staff

2024

On November 2024, the Quilts of Valor bee awarded quilts to 15 veterans who attend classes or are staff members at Front Range Community College (FRCC). The presentation was hosted by FRCC Veteran Services staff. The ceremony was attended by family, friends, and members of the community. The veterans were able to select the quilt of their choice, and they were then wrapped in the quilt and individually honored for their service and sacrifice. It was a day of thankful, proud, and happy tears.

We honor you for leaving all you hold dear to serve, whether in time of crisis or in time of peace. We know the cost of our freedom is the dedication of women and men like you. This Quilt of Valor unequivocally says thank you for your service and sacrifice in serving our nation.

Got questions? Contact: Peg Rogers or Jessica McAdoo

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