Veterans get a gift of warmth – and love

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By Cela Dorr, Contributing Writer

Westborough – On a blustery November day, hearts were warmed and spirits lifted at the Westborough Senior Center with a celebration honoring the men and women who served this nation in the Armed Forces. With the Fire Department’s Color Guard to start off the festivities, a rousing sing-a-long of each branch of service’s song soon ensued, with full audience participation.

Westborough’s Veterans Advisory Board (WVAB) invited the Massachusetts branch of the Quilts of Valor Foundation (QOFV), a national organization of volunteers who use their talents as quilt makers, to create a comforting blanket for military service members. Theresa Perreault, the MA State Coordinator for QOFV and Jeannie Perron, member of the Spencer group, presented several residents who served in World War II, their quilts. Brightly patterned blocks are sent in from around the country, where quilt toppers stitch and batt everything into a queen-sized, tangible, appreciation. Some of the blocks even reflect the name and state of the volunteer stitcher.

The focus of the afternoon celebration was to award the quilts to several Westborough residents who served in WWII. The recipients were: Arthur Breen (Army), Bert Federman (Army), Charlie Fay (Army), John Strickland (Sea Bees) and Gerry Rosen (Navy). Their quilt was also accompanied by a certificate, which was read to each of them, by Perreault, as the quilt was draped over their shoulders, like a warm hug. The emotion of each veteran’s moment of honor was felt by not only the recipients, but members of the audience in attendance as well.

The WVAB and the QOVF have plans to have another ceremony in the near future to honor other WWII Veterans living in Westborough, as there are still other quilts to be assembled.

For more information about the Quilts of Valor Foundation visit www.QOVF.org.

Veterans get a gift of warmth – and love

Arthur Breen

Veterans get a gift of warmth – and love
John Strickland
Veterans get a gift of warmth – and love
Burt Federman

 

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