Veterans Honored With Quilts Of Valor

Quilters nationwide are thanking military members and helping some veterans put the pieces back together years and even decades after their service ends.

They do this by gifting quilts that bring comfort and healing to their new owners. American Legion Post 175 — Severna Park hosted an event to honor five veterans with Quilts of Valor on June 20.

The Quilts of Valor Foundation formed in 2003. Delaware resident Catherine Roberts, whose son was deployed, had a dream about a despondent soldier who sat on the edge of a bed. She then saw the soldier again, with a quilt, feeling lighter and hopeful.

Since 2003, veterans across the country have received a combined 447,658 quilts. From January through May of this year, 11,679 quilts have been awarded.

In Anne Arundel County, quilts are made by a chapter called The Sewing Stars, which meets at Cottonwood in Severna Park. Quilts are about 62-by-73 inches and consist of four parts: the top, the batting or center, the backing and the stitches.

Each part has a significance. The top has many colors, shapes and fabrics to represent the diverse backgrounds and life experiences of recipients. Warmth from the batting is designed to bring comfort, peace and healing. The backing of the quilt is the strength that supports the other layers.

“It represents the strength of the veteran, the support of the family, community and the people of our nation,” said Nicole Putnam-Frenchik, who leads The Sewing Stars.

And then there’s the last part. “The stitches, which hold all of the layers together — these represent the caring, gratitude and honor the quilt-makers might feel,” Putnam-Frenchik shared.

One of the five veterans, Glen Burnie resident Larry Bowen, called it an honor to receive such a gift.

“Nicole called and asked, and it was quite a surprise,” Bowen said. “As a service member for 21 years, you don’t do it for the recognition. You do it because you’re a patriot.”

A Purple Heart recipient, Bowen served aboard the USS Liberty, which was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea to gather intelligence during the Six-Day War between Israel and Arab states in 1967. Though the USS Liberty was unarmed, Israeli forces launched an attack on June 8, killing 34 people and wounding over 170 others.

“They strafed us, they torpedoed us and they napalmed us,” said Bowen, who added that he would serve his country again, and he did by joining the National Security Agency.

Acts of gratitude, like Quilts of Valor, are meaningful to Bowen. Only in the last nine years has he started talking about his pent-up feelings: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety.

As an Air Force medic, Talicia Blake witnessed many gruesome injuries. The Glen Burnie resident nominated herself for a Quilt of Valor after attending her uncle’s ceremony in West Virginia.

“Just to have something that someone put together, it shows gratitude and it is good to feel appreciated,” Blake said. “Every veteran should put in for it.”

Quilts of Valor recognizes active duty, National Guard and reservist members of the United States armed forces. The group also honors living veterans of the armed forces during declared war, conflicts, police actions, peacekeeping missions and counterterrorism operations.

An Army veteran, Putnam-Frenchik got involved in December 2025 because she wanted to give back to the people who are not always recognized for their service. The Sewing Stars has 11 active members, some being veterans, and it takes a group of them to create each quilt.

“My father was a Vietnam vet and he had PTSD,” Putnam-Frenchik said. “No one thanked him.”

George Shearin, a Middle River resident, can relate to that sentiment. He recalled coming home from Vietnam and feeling “greatly disrespected.”

He brought his wife, sister, brother, nephew, niece and grandson to the Severna Park ceremony in June. Whether it’s Quilts of Valor or a “thank you” from a stranger, any expression of appreciation is welcome.

“This almost brought tears to my eyes,” Shearin said of the American Legion Post 175 event. “This meant a great deal.”