Veterans honored before Rep. McMorris Rodgers

Emotions ran high as three military veterans received Quilts of Valor and the woman who brought the organization to the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley received a congressional letter from U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers.

Three veterans were honored Friday at the Clarkston Veterans of Foreign Wars. Dennis Rousseau served in the U.S. Navy from 1965-69, while Donald Cline served in the Navy from 1967-77 and in the Army from 1987-98. Mark Jonowski served in the Navy from 1987-94.

All three received quilts that were draped over them and hugs from volunteers who’d made the quilts. Most were teary-eyed.

“Every time I see it, I get tears,” said Clarkston Veterans of Foreign Wars commander Chuck Whitman, who has also been a quilt recipient.

Whitman was told that McMorris Rodgers had never seen a Quilts of Valor ceremony.

“So we decided we would take care of that,” he said.

It wasn’t the only reason McMorris Rodgers was at the ceremony. She presented Sharon Ledbetter with a congressional letter for organizing the Lewis-Clark Quilts of Valor. McMorris Rodgers read the letter, which noted that Ledbetter has helped more than 1,000 veterans.

“(Ledbetter’s) profound impact to the veterans in our community will not soon be forgotten,” McMorris Rodgers said.

Ledbetter became emotional as McMorris Rodgers read the letter. She turned to the quilt makers, who volunteer with the organization, and said, “These are people who are responsible for this.”

Ledbetter was in Paducah, Ky., at the National Quilt Museum for the 20th annual Quilts of Valor convention when she received news that was receiving the congressional letter. Kelly McKeehan, who presented the veterans with their quilts, texted Ledbetter, “here’s some good news.”

Ledbetter said she was stunned to hear about the congressional letter and said the quilts are all about the veterans.

“I was like, ‘I don’t deserve this really,’” she said.

Her volunteerism, however, shows why she earned the honor.

She began making quilts in 2005, before the local group was formed. Her husband was a Vietnam U.S. Air Force veteran.

Ledbetter started the Lewis Clark Quilts of Valor in 2009 and served as group leader, then the Idaho state coordinator and moved to the role of assistant executive director nationally. Now she’s back to being a volunteer.

Ledbetter said that quilts are made and given to veterans or military members in the community through word of mouth. The organization has a list of people to make quilts for and it goes through the list. There are around 60 volunteers who make more than 100 quilts a year. The quilters can use their own fabric, but are also given fabric and quilt kits.

The quilts have three layers. The first is the top quilt, which shows the design and represents the individual communities. The center layer provides warmth and symbolizes comfort, peace and healing. The backing is the strength of the quilt and represents the support of family, friends, their community and the nation. The stitching holds the quilt together and shows the love, gratitude and sometimes the tears of the maker, McKeehan said.

Even though the exact veteran or military person the quilt will go to is unknown during the making of a quilt, the quilters think of the recipient as they create.

“In my mind, it’s the best possible work I can do,” Ledbetter said. “They’re not charity quilts, they’re awards.”

After giving Ledbetter her recognition, McMorris Rodgers also addressed those at the ceremony. She said it was an honor to attend the ceremony and thanked the volunteers who put together the quilts and the veterans for their service.

“Thank you for your example of service before self,” she said to the veterans.

McMorris Rodgers shared her belief in supporting veterans and making sure those who defended the nation are honored for protecting the freedoms “that we often take for granted.”

McMorris Rodgers also recognized her staff member, Claudette Becker, Gold Star Family Fellow and veterans coordinator, and noted Jonowski’s new position as the Asotin County Veterans Service Officer. McMorris Rodgers shared how both individuals are working to help veterans.

“It’s a reminder that each one of us can make a difference,” she said. “People make the difference.”

Jonowski began his role Sept. 1 to assist veterans and their families with getting services like disability, medical and death benefits through the federal government.

“It’s not an easy process,” he said.

Becker, who works with veterans and families of those who lost their lives in service, commended the Asotin County community for their support of veterans.

“It blows me away,” she said.

Becker said that when there’s an issue to address, people “problem-solve” to resolve it. Then ceremonies, like the Quilts of Valor, are given to honor those who served.

“This is the stuff (McMorris Rodgers) loves to hear,” Becker said. “This makes her day.”

Brewster may be contacted at kbrewster@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2297.