Saturday, June 16th, Claude and I went to the Scott County Extension Office. The Scott County Extension Homemakers and the Elkhorn Creek Quilts of Valor would honor 13 Veterans by presenting each a Quilt of Valor. The name of the quilt Claude received was Patriot's Sky. It was pieced and bound by Carol Price. It was quilted by Birdsong Quilting. The presentation was done by Whitney Hilterbran, Scott County Extension Agent. I do believe Earlene Arnett submitted Claude's name as a candidate for this honor. This was a very touching honor to Claude. They read his accomplishments while he served. The cute one was when they read he received a Good Conduct Medal. He told them to tell everyone to notice that he was good. Whitney did just that as she read. Everyone chuckled. Then these two ladies displayed his quilt for all to see. Then they wrapped him in it. Each Veteran was honored through the same process. At the end they had all the Veteran's stand together for a group picture. One of the Veteran's could not attend that day. His Quilt of Valor will be presented separately. This honor moved Claude to shed a few tears.
The other thing that happened this month was at the Georgetown-Scott County Museum. They created an exhibit about the Viet Nam War. Veteran's who served were asked to loan some of their memorabilia for the exhibit. Claude carefully went through his things and took a box of treasures down to the museum. After the Quilts of Valor ceremony, Claude and I went to the museum to view the Viet Nam Exhibit.
This was a patch one of the Veteran loaned for the exhibit. This was the sad thing about the Viet Nam war. It was a time when the people rallied against this war. The veteran's who served sometimes came home out of uniform for their own safety. Some were spit on, called names and other humiliating things. This, after they did what they were called to do to the best of their ability in the most awful of circumstances. When I saw this patch, it seemed to sum up a lot of the sentiment of the military at that time.
Claude's military service was not on the ground in Viet Nam. The career field he was given and trained in upon entering the Air Force was Cartography. He made the maps the men used. He made the training plates for the bombers to learn on. His biggest war injury was falling through a light table. As a result, he and I had a conversation as we were arriving at the Extension Office. He said he really didn't necessarily feel he should receive such an honor. I told him that somehow we equate being shot at as being a Veteran. Reality is, there is a lot of service to get those men to where they are and to help them perform the thing they are called upon to do. If that service is not done, they can't perform the task they are given. While Claude was not shot at, the work he did provided aid and a measure of safety for those who were shot at. All Veteran's are Veteran's if they do their duty for the cause that is Freedom.
Claude is standing by his fatigue jacket and his dress blue uniform.
These are items from Claude's service. The flag in the frame was a gift to Claude on his 50th birthday. I purchased a United States flag and had it flown over the Capitol in Washington, DC on his birthday. When it was mailed to us we put it in this frame with his medals.
Claude was also most happy to see his dog tags displayed. The oval tag says that he is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Claude was especially happy it was turned face up in the display case so others could see that.
I snapped this picture of my honey looking at a bit of his life history in the museum case. I find this a tender picture. What memories he has and this was an opportunity to reflect on that time in his life and how it has affected his life after.
At the end of the exhibit, there was a binder with pages for each Veteran that visited to record their information about when and where they served. Then they were given a pin or pins with little flags to put on the map where they served.
It was a great morning. Good to remember. Good to be grateful. And, I am grateful to be a citizen of the United States of America.
No comments:
Post a Comment