This community, like places all over the country, paused on Veterans Day to honor those who served. Veterans Day is always on November 11, the anniversary of the armistice ending World War I in 1918. But unlike past remembrances in the 102-year history of the holiday, no one is inviting crowds, hosting parades, but instead preferring to offer virtual ceremonies, or hosting in person events requiring masks and observing social distancing in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The McHenry County Historical Society in Union partnered with the Gazebo Valor Quilters of Huntley to honor local veterans on Veterans Day. Health concerns conceived the idea of a touchless delivery curbside of the treasured Valor Quilts.
Cathy Smetters, Gazebo Valor team coordinator said, “We are trying to have very little contact with the veterans and their families in accordance with the COVID-19 regulations. We will be asking all the veterans and guests to stay in their vehicles to limit contact.”
Huntley Valor Quilts began in 2011. The group’s quest is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting beautiful handmade red, white, and blue quilts.
Smetters said, “It is such a shame that we cannot present in our normal manner. We will have music and sing our hearts out to them. It is all we can do to show our appreciation to them. It will be however a brief celebration but it is the best we can do for now. We look forward to the time where we can continue to present in our normal manner.”
Gazeebo Valor quilters and McHenry County Historical Society members pass out Valor Quilts to veterans in their cars.
Members of the public, donning masks and following social distancing protocols, dropped by to offer thanks to these servicemen. The quilters offered attendees red, white, and blue masks to keep in the spirit of the event.
The cars lined up and veterans were presented with their quilt. One vehicle contained two veterans. The senior, Schimpa Jr. served on the USS Independence from 1964-73, and his son Schimpa III served from 1998-2002 onboard the USS Carl Vinson during Operation Desert Storm.
Smethers said, “Gazebo Valor Quilts has distributed over 3,100 quilts over the years. We will be giving each Veteran an application to make copies and give to fellow veterans that they may know. We are always looking for Veterans who have not received their Valor Quilt as of yet. We have quite a few quilts in the stockpile for the future request. Our volunteers continue to create more quilts for our future years with our current funds.”
For more information about the Gazebo Valor Quilts, contact Cathy Smetters at cbsmetters@ameritech.net. To fill out a Valor Quilt application for yourself or a loved one visit mchenrycountyhistory.org/heritage-quilters.
