Open House At Senior Center Showcases Quilts

By Nancy K. Crevier

At the request of the chaplain, 13 quilts made by members of the Newtown Senior Center Quilters for the Quilts of Valor Foundation will be shipped this week to the Dover Air Force Base Port Mortuary.

Quilts of Valor is a national organization responsible for distributing quilts to injured service men and women. The quilts, generally made with a red, white, and blue patriotic theme, are created by volunteers nationwide.

“The wounds of war are not always visible, or ones that bleed,” explained Marilyn Place, director of the Senior Center. “These quilts will offer comfort to those men and women who prepare the bodies of the fallen soldiers for their final destination,” said Ms Place. According to information received by the Senior Center, the 120-day assignment at the mortuary is extremely taxing. It is a solemn task that must be completed with “dignity, honor, and respect and never seek praise.”

Members of the Senior Center, their friends and family, as well as the public, viewed the quilts, displayed on wall hangers and tables arranged in the new addition to the Senior Center, during the Newtown Senior Center Open House, Thursday, November 13, from 2 to 4 pm.

More than a dozen members of the Senior Center have contributed to cutting and sewing the quilts since the group first started meeting this past spring, said Ms Place.

Some of the quilters, like Aida Reiske and Terry Curry, made quilts individually as well as with the group. “It’s been so much fun working on these quilts,” said Ms Curry. “It was a pleasure to do them. We’ll do as many as we can,” she said, adding that the group is already planning the next quilts that they will make for Quilts of Valor.

Many of the 13 quilts follow traditional patterns such as “Slash and Dash” or “Log Cabin.” Others have more fanciful pattern names, like “Walk in the Woods” or “Sudoku.” While the recipients will never know the identities of the quilters who pieced together the tops and backings of the quilts, a label is affixed to the backside of each finished quilt that tells which group created it, the name of the longarm quilter, and the date it was made. The quilters can insert anonymous notes of support and appreciation to the recipient into the pocket formed by the label.

In other rooms at the Senior Center, guests feasted on treats donated by members of the community, and danced and sang along to music performed by musician Richard Clark. In one of the back rooms, a group of pool players enjoyed a game of billiards. Ms Place said that she is pleased that more men have been making use of the center since the pool table and game room were set up this past spring, and that the Wii video games have been particularly popular with both the men and women of the center.

“We are really excited to show off the center to residents and to have the chance for people to see these beautiful quilts before they are sent off,” said Ms Place. “It’s wonderful to see everyone here, having a good time.”