Who are the Quilts of Valor in Mt. Pleasant: Since 2019, a local Mt. Pleasant retailer,
Keepsake Quilts, along with the Mt. Pleasant Quilts of Valor chapter, have been working together on one simple mission: to bring comfort to veterans.
Established by Catherine Roberts in 2003, the
Quilts of Valor Foundation has been on a mission to bring healing to veterans for the past two decades. The foundation consists of nearly 600 chapters nationwide. The Mt. Pleasant chapter was established four years ago by Pamela Coughlin, the chapter’s president, and local Keepsake Quilts retail store owner, Gerolyn Freeze.
After learning about the Quilts of Valor Foundation, Coughlin says she felt inspired to bring the organization to her community. With the help of her long-time friend, Freeze, the two have been able to grow their chapter to about 20 members.
The Mt. Pleasant Quilts of Valor chapter now meets about once a month at Keepsake Quilts, located at 4585 E. Pickard St. Suite K in Mt. Pleasant.
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(Photo: Adison Reder/Epicenter)What they are working on: Sharing a namesake with the organization, Quilts of Valor (QOV) are quilts designed for and awarded to veterans and service members of the United States Armed Forces.
“We make quilts for veterans and they’re quilts of comfort,” Coughlin explains. “This foundation was started with the purpose of bringing comfort for veterans, because many [of them] have been through an awful lot.”
The quilts are made to specific standards as established by the national Quilts of Valor Foundation. Most quilts feature a red, white, and blue color scheme, along with various approved designs.
While quilts can be made by individuals, the group of Mt. Pleasant quilters find that quilting together can make the process much faster.
“Each quilt takes anywhere from a week to a couple months to create,” says Gerolyn Freeze, vice president of the Mt. Pleasant Quilts of Valor club.
Although sewing can be quite the arduous process, both Coughlin and Freeze express that there is no greater feeling than being able to give back to their community and those who have served.
The Mt. Pleasant Quilts of Valor group is also currently working to provide quilts for the
Mid-Michigan Honor Flight organization based in Mecosta. These honor flight quilts are typically smaller in size and are made as lap-blankets for wheelchair users.
According to Freeze, the goal of the honor flight quilts is to bring comfort to veterans as they travel throughout Washington D.C visiting our nation's memorials.
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(Photo courtesy of Mary Patterson)Why it’s important: Quilts of Valor serve as a touchstone for those who have experienced the demons of war. They are a physical reminder of their sacrifice and the thankfulness of those that they gave their service to protect.
As Coughlin says, “The quilts are a home-coming for many veterans. They’re healing.”
When it comes to the honor flight quilts, Coughlin and Freeze share that the quilts are a symbol of appreciation for those who have served and that they bring a sense of joy to veterans as they travel.
The Quilts of Valor and honor flight quilts are a symbol of gratitude towards those who have served and an expression of comfort so that veterans know their service is never forgotten.
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(Photo: Adison Reder/Epicenter)What they are saying: According to their
official website, the mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is “to cover Service Members and Veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.”
When a quilt is presented to a veteran, the quilt is wrapped around them “as a reminder and comfort that we are always thinking of them,” says Coughlin.
“Every time we present [a quilt] to someone, they always think that they don’t deserve it,” she adds, “so the quilts just bring them a lot of peace.”
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(Photo: Adison Reder/Epicenter)How you can get involved: Any veteran is able to be nominated for a Quilt of Valor. According to Freeze, anyone wanting to nominate a veteran can contact Keepsake Quilts at 989-317-8700 or
Gerolyn@mi-keepsake-quilts.com.
Quilts of Valor Mt. Pleasant is largely funded off of donations. Donations to the organization vary from monetary support, fabric and quilting supplies, and volunteer time. Anyone who wishes to donate may contact Gerolyn Freeze at
Gerolyn@mi-keepsake-quilts.com.
Those wishing to learn more about the Quilts of Valor Foundation can visit their
website for more information.
Anyone looking to become involved with the Mt. Pleasant group may contact Keepsake Quilts at 989-317-8700 or email
Gerolyn@mi-keepsake-quilts.com.