LUSBY, Md. – On a recent Sunday afternoon, I walked into a secret underground sweatshop located in Calvert County. No, there really isn’t a secret sweatshop in Calvert County but the men and women who are busy sewing, sorting, and ironing, are joking that this is so. This all-volunteer group is creating Quilts of Valor.
Handmade, a Quilt of Valor is a civilian award presented to a Service Member or Veteran who has been touched by war.
The volunteers, men and women, young and old, some from the same family, about two-thirds with prior sewing skills and the rest without, come together at the Chesapeake Ranch Club Administration Building twice a month to work on Quilts of Valor. They share a deep love and respect for the men and women who have proudly served our nation. By helping with the quilts, the volunteers are able to honor this service in a tangible way.
Dee Wunder, along with Heidi Hendrix and Stacey Farnese, started the Lusby group seven years ago.
“We were driving to Lexington Park [Md.] to sew and wanted a location closer to home to love, honor, and thank the Armed Forces men and women for their service. It’s been our privilege to complete and present the quilts.”
Heidi Hendrix has the monumental task of sorting, cutting, and putting together all the quilting kits. She works with purchased and donated fabric and thread, all of which the group is thrilled to receive.
“The fabric is our biggest expense,” said Hendrix. “At up to $13.00 per yard, when we receive donated fabric and unused thread, it really helps. We have several fundraisers during the year to try and cover the cost of the materials. I put together the kits and anyone, whether they are already a Quilt of Valor volunteer or someone new, can have a quilt-top kit at no cost.”
Besides volunteering herself, Hendrix’s husband, Doug Hendrix, sets up the sewing machines, ironing boards, and other supplies for the group. Hendrix’s mom and dad, Jackie and Garth Van Sickle, also work on sewing the quilt tops.
“My dad is a retired Naval Aviator in his 70’s and new to sewing but now comes and sews quilt-tops for the group; mom has been sewing for 56 years,” said Hendrix.
“When I upgraded my sewing machine, Garth asked for my old one. ‘Who are you?’ I asked. He’s been volunteering for the group ever since,” said Jackie Van Sickle of her husband Garth.
“As you see, we’ll even teach you to sew if you are interested. But we also need folks to help with ironing and cutting if you don’t want to sew. There’s room for everyone,” Wunder explains.
The volunteers who come have different reasons for their participation.
Mary Bahniuk, one of only 6 quilters, or long armers as they are called due to the description of the long arms on the sewing machines that stitches the actual quilting, ran out of family members for whom to make personal quilts.
“I love to quilt but no one in my family needed or wanted any more quilts. Now, I quilt for the group and just love to contribute to this Foundation. So many of the Veterans don’t think they are deserving of the quilts, stating that they just did their job. And many are in tears when presented with a quilt.”
Maj. Maurice Saxton, Retired, who was presented a quilt this past holiday said, “I’m touched by the quilt but I’m more touched by being honored by those who did not serve and are acknowledging our contribution.” Saxton, who is a Vietnam Veteran, also has two sons who are currently active in the Armed Forces.
Quilt-top sewer Priscilla O’Dell loves to, “See the respect and acknowledgment of the public when the quilts are presented,” and brings her mom Ruby Lee O’Dell with her when she volunteers. Priscilla and her mom presented a quilt to a retired Air Force member in Boston, Ma., “I cried, he cried, he didn’t think he was worthy of a quilt.”
Bonnie Hasting, who also volunteers with her daughter Tina Mosher, said, “I have two grandsons, two son-in-laws, and a daughter who all served in the Armed Forces. I wanted to make a difference. If you want to cry, be at a quilt presentation. During the last event at the Calvert Marine Museum, one Veteran drove from past Baltimore [Md.] to receive his quilt. He was so appreciative.”
Wunder explained, “There is a hierarchy for the presentation of the quilts. Any Veteran in bed-side hospice goes to the top of the list [to receive a quilt], then World War II Veterans, followed by Korean Veterans, and so forth. This past month, we presented five quilts to World War II Veterans.
The quilts are not meant to be hung on a wall. They are meant to say thank you for your service, thank you for leaving all you hold dear to serve, and please accept this for comfort and healing. Each quilt is awarded, it’s not handed out. It’s not charity and it’s always handmade.”
One of Hendrix’s most memorable presentations was at Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
“My son Charles, begged me to make the two-hour trip to present a quilt to his fellow [United States] Marine Corps boot camp buddy, Ace, when he first arrived at the Center. Charles was in Norway at the time and couldn’t get back to be by his bedside. I went to see Ace, who had only been in Afghanistan for six days when he was hit by rocket fire. Everyone thought this 20-year-old was going to lose both his legs. It was very emotional when we got there and presented the quilt.”
When asked, Hendrix explained that Ace was able to keep both his legs but remains on 100 percent disability.
Another presentation Hendrix especially remembers was to a World War II Veteran whose job was to prepare and set up the body bags that came home with deceased members remains. After his tour ended, he re-enlisted for another tour, asking and receiving the same job so that someone else did not have to deal with the horrific memories he already had. “That one just hit me to the core. No one here [Quilts of Valor] gets anything out of creating the quilts except interacting with these incredible men and women.”
Volunteers have traveled to Ohio, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Washington D.C., and other locations in the United States to present quilts. “We are not constricted by boundaries,” said Hendrix. “Judy, [D’Errico] another member of our group, just left for Virginia Beach to present five quilts.”
Each quilt is carefully folded and presented in a bag made by the group. The bag fabric is donated by manufacturers in the United States who make American flags. If there is a blemish in the blue fabric used for the stars of the flag, the material is donated to the group. A separate label is applied to each bag so they are not confused with the actual flag material that is flown.
Some quilts are completed during the Sunday sew sessions while others are taken home and completed there.
Wunder said, “At the beginning of each Sunday meeting, we show and tell the newest quilts. A label is attached that includes the Veteran’s name, name of the quilt-top sewer, name of the quilter and any Vietnam Veteran, Purple Heart, or Silver Star recipient receives an added pin or ribbon. The quilts are carefully folded and packed away in their handmade star bags in preparation for presentation.”
On average, the Lusby Quilts of Valor group stitches and presents 150 quilts each year, according to Wunder.
Wunder said, “Making and presenting each quilt has turned into a community effort. The Chesapeake Ranch Club [Lusby, Md.] has donated a corner of their building for the storage of the group’s sewing machines, ironing boards, fabric, and quilts as well as allowed the group to meet there twice a month on Sunday afternoons.”
The Calvert Marine Museum [Solomon’s, Md.] allows the group space during some of their larger events to demonstrate the quilt-making process as well as present quilts. Many members of the public have never heard of Quilts of Valor. Having the public observe or take part in a presentation makes these ceremonies even more meaningful.”
A few other community groups that have sponsored presentations include: The Arick Lore American Legion Auxiliary Post 274, Lusby, Md. sponsors the groups’ membership in the Quilts of Valor Foundation as well as hosts several quilt presentations during the year; the Calvert County Senior Citizens centers, Calvert County, Md.; Solomon’s Landing, Lusby, Md.; Solomon’s Yacht Club, Solomon’s, Md.; and various churches have also sponsored quilt presentations throughout the year. This past Christmas, the 7th District Optimist Club, Avenue, Md., hosted a dinner and presentation for multiple veterans of the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, Charlotte Hall, Md.
Founded by Catherine Roberts in 2003, more information on the Quilts of Valor Foundation can be found at: https://www.qovf.org/.
To submit a name for a Quilt of Valor presentation through the Lusby chapter, contact Dee Wunder at (443 624-5547 with the recipient’s Given Name, Branch of Service, Dates of Service, Rate, and Rank.
For further information, to volunteer for the Lusby Chapter of Quilts of Valor, or to make monetary, fabric, thread, old sewing machines, hand irons, ironing boards, or supply donations, contact Dee Wunder at (443) 624-5547.