It was bitterly windy and cold outside, but nice and warm inside the American Legion in Towanda where 16 intrepid quilters gathered with sewing machines ironing boards, cutters, mats and great food and snacks. They were joining the 600 other chapters of Quilts of Valor across the United States for the annual Sew Day. There were smiles all around as these amazing quilters went right to the tasks of sewing and pressing log cabin blocks and borders. They shared stories, tips, ideas, and recipes and when the day ended, there were enough log cabin blocks to make 5 tops, 3 of which are already pieced by Lightening Lou Taft. These are poised to be quilted.
We are thankful to the American Legion post 42 in Towanda for allowing us to use this great space which allows us to plan, cut and sew beautiful Quilt of Valor tops for our local veterans.
Click on any photo to view them all full-size as a slide show.
We will be joining the approximately 600 chapters of Quilts of Valor Foundation across the country to get together to make Quilts of Valor to cover our local Veterans.
We will be gathering at the American Legion in Towanda from 10-3 on Saturday, Feb 1, 2025. We will automatically register the BCQOVF members but those members of the Friendship Quilters and others who are coming should contact Carol Ullo to get registered. Why register? Because the QOVF National organization will hold drawings all day for gift certificates from their sponsors. One is even a Janome Sewing Machine.
Think it can’t happen to us? A few years ago, Renee Stewart won a gift certificate for National Sew Day.
As always, there will be snacks and lunch and beverages. We will need cutters, pressers, and people with machines to sew. Sign up at the January Friendship Quilters’ Meeting or contact Carol ( cullo@att.net). It is a fun day where we will make blocks and put together pre-made kits and share tips.
QOVF 2025 Block of the year is the log cabin block. We will have precut kits to make blocks and kits with already made blocks so it should be easy and fun. The log cabin block is so versatile. Never made a log cabin block? A pre-cut kit is an easy way to start.
Last year Christine Davis joined us on National Sew Day to pick up star blocks for her 8th grade Family and Consumer Science classes to sew. Those blocks were later pieced and awarded to Athens HS alumni veteran Carl Maynard. This year Davis has asked the High School Family Consumer Sciences teacher and class to join the project. Students will make blocks from kits created by Lou Taft and will also make pillowcases for us to use when we award QOV’s. We are all excited to get started on this collaboration and hope to award the completed quilt to a local veteran again this spring at Athens School.
Examples of block kits and a finished quilt block.
Quilt of Valor National Sew Day will be Saturday, Feb 3, 2024. The American Legion was not available for that date, so we decided to hold our SEW DAY on Friday, Feb 2. There was no sun outside, but no bad weather, either, and it was very bright and pleasant inside. 18 quilters, 10 sewing machines, 3 ironing stations, and 4 cutting stations made quick work of the block kits and quilt kits many of which had been prepared beforehand. The fun, fellowship, and outstanding food added to the joy of creating beautiful QOV tops. Three were completed while several others are well on their way to being finished. Group members completed several of the 2024 QOV Blocks of the Year, the Ohio Star and we look forward to piecing them into quilts.
Click on any photo below to view them all full-size as a slide show.
This year Bradford and Surrounding Counties QOV Chapter will hold their National Sew Day gathering on Friday, February 2nd at the American Legion Post 42 in Towanda from 10am-3pm. The Legion is located at 912 Main St., Towanda PA. Members and volunteers will gather to make blocks and finish kits for Quilts of Valor to award to our local veterans throughout the year. Lunch will be provided. Anyone planning to attend should sign up with Carol Ullo. Anyone needing additional information should contact Carol at cullo@att.net.
Photos from our last sew day in November, 2023 (click on any photo to view them full size as a slideshow):
On November 24, Veteran Robert Sobolewski received a Quilt of Valor at his home with family and friends in attendance. Sobolewski served in the US Army from 1965 to 1980 during the Cold War period and in Vietnam. His three daughters were wearing t-shirts that said “Proud Daughter of a Vietnam Veteran. Some people never meet their heroes. I was blessed to be raised by mine.” One of his daughters, Becky Epler and her husband Scott are also US Army Gulf War Veterans.
Robert Sobolewski with his daughters (left) and wrapped in his QOV with the newest member of the family (right).
After the award ceremony, Robert shared a few words about his experiences and about the thousands of his comrades who never returned home. As we honor our veterans, we all give thanks for their safe return home.
Mike Comerski Awarded QOV
Mike Comerski received a QOV from Bradford County QOV Chapter member Dawn Zimmerman. Comerski actually served his country in two different branches of the armed services. He served in the Army from 1986-1999 and later joined the Marine Corps where he served in various areas of the world including Panama and the Gulf War.
Veteran Mike Comerski receives QOV. Left photo from Left to Right. Ty Zimmerman, Mike Comerski , Dianne Comerski , Dawn Zimmerman Quilt of Valor Representative and friend of the family.
In January of 2023, Christine Davis, Family Consumer Science Teacher at Athens Middle School contacted us about the Split Star block. She had seen it featured on the QOVF website as the 2023 Block of the Year and wanted to know if her students could make them. Despite looking difficult, it is a relatively easy block to make. Patti S and Lou T. cut out and put together individual block kits. Davis visited BCQOV 2023 Sew Day in February, got the tutorial, and picked up block kits for her students, who completed them during the semester. Chapter member Joan W pieced them together, Dawn Z quilted the quilt and Eileen H did the binding. Joan also made an embroidered tag with each of the students’ names on it.
On November 9, Carol U and Joan W awarded the quilt to Carl Richard Maynard, a proud Athens HS 1955 graduate and a 29 year US Army Veteran. Maynard’s son Mark teaches at the school and when he heard the kids were making the quilt and were looking for a local recipient, he suggested that it be given to his father. Mark had already requested a QOV for his father who lives in the Harrisburg Area. Carol contacted that chapter and had the award reassigned to Bradford County Quilts of Valor.
The day before Veteran’s Day, the Athens Middle School Choir sang patriotic songs and the entire student body attended the assembly to award the quilt. The students who made the quilt wrapped Mr. Maynard in his quilt and he remarked that ”It was the nicest thing that had ever happened to him”
Veteran Carl Richard Maynard being wrapped in his Quilt of Valor.
Talking about sewing the blocks, the students said that it was more difficult than the pillowcase they made. One young man said that the sewing wasn’t bad, but the hardest thing was staying on the ¼ line and having to use that ripper if wasn’t right.
BCQOV is looking forward to another collaboration with the Athens students.
Mr. Raymond with his family, Athens Middle School Students, and teacher Christine Davis.
Bradford and Surrounding Counties Quilt of Valor Chapter members Eileen Hugo, Deb Struble, Carol Ullo, Lou Taft and Joan Woloshyn awarded quilts to four veterans at this year’s annual Picnic in the Park event on September 9. Quilts were presented to: Carl Young, from Troy who served in the Army in Vietnam from 1968-69. Originally from Troy and now living in Pittsburgh Vicki Haight is an Air Force Veteran who served from 1975 to 1985 from the Cold War to the Vietnam era. Tim Bomboy originally from Wyalusing now lives in Montrose. He served 20 years in the Army in Iraq, Afghanistan and many other areas of conflict in the world. Ashley Watson served with the Air Force in Afghanistan from 2007 to 2012.
June 10, 2023 The 2023 Annual Veteran’s Appreciation Picnic sponsored by the Northern Tier Veteran’s Group saw the largest turnout ever. It was a huge enthusiastic gathering of Veterans from the area. Volunteers from Bradford County and surrounding areas awarded nine beautiful Quilts of Valor to recipients from Vietnam and the Gulf War. The Veterans were:
Arthur Durland (Air Force, Vietnam) John Gardner (Army, Vietnam) David Getz (Navy, Vietnam) Jeffrey Lloyd (Marine Corps, Vietnam) Paul Runyon (Army, Vietnam) Bruce Orloski (Air Force, Vietnam) Larry Vanderpool (Army, Vietnam) Laverne Chandler (Marine Corps, Gulf War) Joshua Wilson (Army, Gulf War)
Click any image to view them all full-size as a slide show.
May 27, 2023, Faye Lubold and Carol traveled to Friendsville, PA to award a quilt of Valor to David Calabretta, an army veteran. 57 years ago David was stationed with a helicopter squadron Marble Mountain Air Base in Vietnam where he and his team fixed on practically everything electrical and electronic. His memories are bittersweet. David shared stories that had never before been recounted with his children and grandchildren who learned a lot about him that day.
Faye Lubold hands David Calabretta the certificate that accompanies a Quilt of Valor.
Bradford County Quilts of Valor 