ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
Special days are set aside on the calendar to honor those who sacrifice and serve to preserve America’s freedom such as Memorial Day in May and Veterans Day in November.
The Quilts of Valor Foundation adds to the gratitude people feel for veterans with a special blanket for them, and in Southwest Kansas, members of the local Needles and Friends Quilt Guild have been helping sew these special gifts for several years.
The guild, along with the Five State Free Fair Board, are looking for nominations for Quilts of Valor to be given out during this year’s fair on Thursday, Aug. 8, in the Seward County Ag Building.
Fair Board Treasurer Rosa Conley said the fair hosting the QOV ceremony is a way to express gratitude for service and sacrifice of veterans.
Conley said nominations can be made through July 28.
“This is anyone,” she said. “Veterans are put into the system of Quilts of Valor. It’s an honor they can only receive once. If there’s anybody the community knows and they feel has not received a Quilt of Valor, they can make that nomination.”
Conley said nominations can also be made for deceased veterans.
“If you would still like to honor them in that way, you can still make those nominations as well,” she said. “We encourage anyone to make nominations. Give us some names of veterans we can honor during that day on Thursday, and we can have a special evening that night.”
Local Quilts of Valor ceremonies take place throughout the year at a variety of area events, and Conley said the Fair Board would like to continue having ceremonies at the fair.
“We have a pretty good turnout, and we would like to honor as many veterans as we can to show our gratitude,” she said.
As many people feel county fairs are part of what makes America what it is, Conley said this is why the Fair Board felt it is special to include the QOV event during the fair to represent the community as a whole and show veterans are special and important to everyone.
“Showcasing that as an event during the fair will always be a special time, and we hope those people who participate during the Quilts of Valor at the fair feel that way,” she said. “It is special.”
Conley said honoring veterans in ways such as giving them a Quilt of Valor is what should be done.
“Everyone should have gratitude and remembrance of the sacrifices and the services our veterans have done for us, and remembering that multiple times throughout the year is important,” she said.
Nominations can be made by calling Mary Rose at 620-655-1678 or by e-mailing
“She will submit those nominations to the quilt guild, and they will make all the necessary connections that need to be made in order to present the quilt to that veteran,” Conley said.
The Five State Free Fair Quilts of Valor ceremony will start at 7 p.m. Aug. 8, and Conley said a stage will be set up inside the Ag Building.
“We’ve got a couple of other things going on in the evening,” she said. “Any of those who come to participate in that event can also participate in the other events that evening as well.”
Conley said everyone involved with the ceremony is excited for the night of Aug. 8.
“Quilts of Valor events hold a special place in our hearts, in my heart, and we’re excited to be able to offer it again,” she said.
For more information about the ceremony, contact Rose, visit the fair’s Web site at fivestatefair.com, or message the Five State Free Fair on Facebook Messenger.
“We can answer any questions we get,” Conley said.
