Experienced quilting hands, newcomers entrusted with an iron to “warm up,” and a pretty pleased 20-year Navy retiree all gathered at the Alvin H. Foster Branch 98 Kingston Royal Canadian Legion February 14.
The monthly Kingston-area Quilts of Valour sewing day was a chance to work together on new quilt projects, and put a completed blanket in the hands of a Canadian Armed Forces veteran.
“Up to now, 20,500 quilts have been given so far across Canada for a good cause,” said volunteer Sergeant (retired) Bruno Losier, speaking before the group and addressing Master Sailor (retired) Charles Marcelli.
“This quilt is for you, to recognize your service and sacrifice, and to honour and comfort you. We thank you.
Quilts of Valour, since 2009, has organized the creation and presentation of quilts to thousands of recipients coping with injuries, both visible and invisible. Quilts are made by volunteers across the country, who sew their appreciation of CAF members, past and present, into each piece. Quilt recipients are often nominated by peers, family or community members.
“I’m speechless – I don’t even know what to say,” Marcelli said, holding the quilt bundled in his arms. “This is quite a prestigious honour. For everyone here, and for especially Shannon Coombs, who nominated me, thank you. Shannon and I sailed together, we were both Military Police together, and she has been a considerable support and friend to me for years.”
Marcelli, who lives in Wilmot, retired from the military from 24 Military Police Flight, at 14 Wing Greenwood, after travelling across the country and around the world. Initially, he joined the Navy as a naval communicator; he did that for 10 years, and then spent another 10 years as an MP. His quilt is labelled with his name, and the names of several women who helped make it: Cheryl Duernichuk in New Brunswick, and Mary Ewing and Donna More, from the Valley area Quilts of Valour group.
Ewing is a past national president of the Quilts of Valour – Canada Society and now helps as leader of “Team 5, made up of quilting groups across the Atlantic Provinces and Quebec. She coordinates the monthly Kingston quilting gathering. She carried in bundles of batting and fabric, quilt tops, two finished quilts to be picked up for later presentation, a sewing machine, cutting tools and boards. She quickly gave Losier an armload: a quilt op, ready to be bound. He and volunteer Helen Frechette spread it out to make the colour call.
“I quilt, I present, I’m a Quilts of Valour representative for Northwestern New Brunswick, where my dad lives,” Losier said. When he retired in 2015 from 14 Wing Greenwood’s Transport and Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Flight, he joined the quilters regularly.
“My mother was a seamstress, so I did all of this growing up. I do leatherwork…. I took my first quilt up to New Brunswick to give to a buddy, and no one knew about Quilts of Valour. Then I went up and did another eight presentations. They know about it now!”
That’s how Corporal Stephanie Hill, who works with 14 Wing’s Wing Comptroller, and Corporal Jonas Cramm, an aviation systems technician with 413 (Transport and Rescue) Squadron, heard about Quilts of Valour: a friend of theirs was presented a quilt in October.
“We do metalwork, stained glass, welding, macramé, crochet…” says Hill. “We came to our friend’s presentation and thought it was pretty cool, and we thought it would be good to be involved with making something someone I know might get.”
The pair aren’t sewers – yet! – but they’re being taught how to press fabric, measure and cut, and sew simple strips together. They have permission from their military chain of command to spend volunteer time with the monthly quilt days.
For more information, visit quiltsofvalour.ca or follow @QuiltsofValour on Facebook. If you are in the Valley and interested in joining local quilt-making projects and presentations, donating fabric and supplies, or nominating a CAF member or veteran, contact Mary Ewing at 902-825-6119. Valley quilters meet at the Kingston Legion the second Tuesday of each month, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
