Wrapped in thanks

Fifteen local veterans honored with quilts of valor

SUN CITY – “It’s time for us to thank them.”

Sue Bruss, co-chair of the Gazebo Quilters of Huntley, spoke those words two days after delivering 15 quilts of valor to area residents (including eight in Sun City), during a special presentation on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at the group’s new headquarters, American Community Bank.

While the group – an affiliation of the Quilts of Valor Foundation – normally presents upwards of five quilts at a time, Bruss said this presentation was a perfect opportunity to let Huntley residents know the Quilters are “alive and well” in a new home.

“We lost our original place, Quilt and Joy, last year, and had been searching for a new place to meet. American decided to sponsor us by giving us this place at no charge. ” she said.

“They [vets and their guests] were able to see the process, to see the quilts being made, and to meet the ladies who actually make these quilts,” Bruss said.

Out of the 15 veterans presented with quilts, only three had no prior knowledge of the day’s events (Bruss said those families wanted to keep it a surprise), but all shared the same response.

“Let me tell you, every time we do it, we’re inspired to do more. Just seeing the response on these guys’ and gals’ faces makes us want to continue – even when we talk of hanging it up and going home,” Bruss said. “For a lot of these vets, it’s the first time anyone’s ever thanked them. It’s the first hug they’ve received for serving in Vietnam. There are still those vets out there living with demons because of the service they’ve given their country, and I know these quilts somehow make a difference. It’s an amazing thing … it’s an amazing thing.”

Members of Phyllis Hirsch’s family were also in attendance. Hirsch, who passed away last fall, following a battle with cancer, was an original member of the Quilters and asked that donations be made to the group in lieu of flowers.

The donations, estimated at $1,600 were able to fund a majority of the quilts presented.

“It’s amazing to see what had been done with the memorial to her,” Bruss said. “That’s what made [this presentation] really special. It was a combination of things. That we were able to honor so many veterans this time around, that we were able to include the color guard from Huntley American Legion and that we were able to make a little bigger deal of it than when we do these personal visits and presentations.”

The eight Sun City residents honored were: Jim Csysz, Army (Vietnam); Ed Nowakowski, Marines (Vietnam); Karl Berglund, Marines (Vietnam); Bob Lodewyck, Army (Vietnam); Nick DiNatale, Navy (Bay of Pigs); Donald McLeod, Air Force (WWII); Patrick Conley, Navy (Vietnam); and Victor Frausto, Army (multiple deployments).

A ninth, recipient, not from Sun City but familiar to the area, was Chuck Veach, of C.T. Veach Landscaping and Construction, who served in the Army Infantry in Vietnam.

Six others from the area, including two from Woodstock and one from southern Wisconsin, were also honored.

With an estimated 22,000 veterans in McHenry County (where the group focuses its efforts, along with Kane), the group relies on word of mouth nominations.

“It’s a matter of finding these guys and gals and presenting a quilt. So many of these vets, especially our Vietnam vets, don’t talk about their service,” Bruss said, “but a friend will nominate them and we’ll try our hardest to honor them.”

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