In a heartfelt recognition of service and sacrifice, the Hickory Fire Department saw five of its members, who have previously served in the US military, receive Quilts of Valor over last weekend. The awards were given by the Catawba Valley Quilters' Guild in a gesture that honors both their military service and their continued commitment to the community as firefighters.
The City of Hickory's official announcement named the recipients as Kyle Benfield from the US Marine Corps, Shelby Brittain of the US Air Force, and Casey Caywood, Jason Hill, and Anthony Smith, all of whom served in the US Marine Corps. Each Quilt of Valor is a tangible reminder of the country's appreciation for the sacrifices made by these individuals.
The Quilts of Valor Foundation is responsible for this initiative, a non-profit organization with a noble mission to cover Service Members and Veterans touched by war with their comforting and healing quilts. According to their records, since 2003, more than 410,000 of these quilts have been awarded, with recipients spanning across the United States as well as in military bases in Germany, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Local quilters from the Catawba Valley Quilters' Guild have joined forces with over 11,000 others in the national network to create these symbols of gratitude.
