Saluting our veterans!

For their veterans

Oconto Auxiliary presents four quilts

OCONTO - Members of the Oconto American Legion Auxiliary and Jr. Auxiliary have been busy! The results of their work was seen in bold and bright colors over the weekend as they presented three Quilts of Valor and one Quilt of Appreciation to veterans with local ties.

A patchwork quilt of red, white and blue squares was presented to Kenn Wagner of Oconto on Saturday. Wagner served in the Air Force during the Viet Nam era. He was stationed in Texas and California 1965-1969 and worked with the SR-71 Blackbird at Beale Air Force Base near Sacramento.

Wagner’s quilt was created by Lynnea Eggleston, her daughter Jodi Eggleston and her granddaughter Bryn Eggleston, daughter of Jeff and Halla Eggleston of Callaway. Wagner said he was especially appreciative of the quilt as Lynnea taught Bryn to quilt during the process. “I appreciate your time and effort,” Wagner told them.

On Sunday, Oconto native Delores Vollenweider, now living in Junction City, Kan., was presented a quilt. Upon learning that Vollenweider had been presented a Quilt of Valor by the American Legion Auxiliary in Junction City, the Oconto unit deemed her quilt “A quilt of appreciation.”

Vollenweider joined the Army in 1975 and retired in 1995. She was stationed in Germany, Maryland and Louisiana and also served in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm. Of her four children, Miranda is in the Army, Yvonne is in the Navy and Asa is in the Marine Corps. “I’m trying to convince Simon to join the Air Force and then I will have one in each branch,” Vollenweider said. Of the quilt, she said, “This is special. I received one from my new community and now I have one from my home community.”

Vollenweiders’s quilt was sewn by Cecelia Stallbaumer. While Vollenwieder was in Saudia Arabia, Stallbaumer and her family helped Vollenweider’s father, Charles, care for daughter Miranda who came to Oconto at the age of 6 to live while Vollenweider was in the Middle East.

Also receiving Quilts of Valor over the weekend were Ronald Lauby and Jimmie Dittmar.

Lauby was in the Army and served in Viet Nam. His quilt features a red, white and blue pattern on a dark blue background.

Dittmar was in the Army and he was stationed in Germany during the Viet Nam era. Dittmar’s quilt incorporates large blocks of red, white and blue with stripes of burgundy and stars as well as gold and gray.

The Oconto America Legion Auxiliary has a goal of sewing quilts for every member of the Sunset Post #205. They have only three or four quilts remaining to complete. “It’s an honor to be able to do this,” Judy Stumpler of the Oconto Auxuliary said.

Quilts of Valor began in 2003. The founder, Catherine Roberts, had a dream of a young man comforted by a quilt and from that dream, she equated quilts with healing. The first quilt was presented in November, 2003, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center to a young solder from Minnesota.

Quilts must be quilted, not tied. Each carries a personalized label stating who made the quilt, location and date and who the quilt was made for.

Mona Weatherly Above, Army veteran Wayne Mills, left, stands with his wife, Marvel, next to the flagpole in their front yard. One of the last World War II veterans locally, Mills helps others purchase flag poles for their own yards.

Courtesy Jimmie Dittmar, second from right, is pictured with his Quilt of Valor received this past weekend. His wife, Margaret, stands with him as unidentified family members hold the quilt.

Mona Weatherly Kenn Wagner, seated, is shown with those who made his Quilt of Valor, Bryn Eggleston, left and Lynnea Eggleston and Jodi Eggleston. Wagner’s wife, Mona Weatherly, took the photo.

Courtesy Above, Ronald Lauby holds his certificate for his Quilt of Valor. He is pictured with Judy Strumpler of the Oconto American Legion Auxiliary, left, and Linda Ellingston.

Mona Weatherly Delores Vollenweider, center, is shown with her quilt being held by Cecelia Stallbaumer, left, and Vollenweider’s son, Simon at the Oconto American Legion Hall Sunday.