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Hundreds of 'Hugs'
By Ben Holman
Nevada Herald
"Four-hundred and ten quilts and counting." According to Keirin Hatch, that's the official count of blankets that have been lovingly pieced together by area quilters, and quilters from around the country, for the quilted hugs effort.
The quilted hugs effort was started to construct more than 150 hand-made quilts, specially crafted in desert colors, that soldiers being deployed to Iraq from Barton, Cedar and Vernon Counties could take with them, offering a warm, useful reminder that someone back in the United States cared enough to send a hug from home.
On Friday, members of the community who had supported the effort, held a parade on the Square in Nevada to celebrate the accomplishment. With the help of the Nevada Police Department, the Vernon County Sheriff's Office and the Nevada Fire Department, mounds of quilts were piled into the beds of pickups and paraded around the Square while quilters and friends waved American flags to show their support for our local soldiers who are overseas.
After the line of vehicles had finished snaking around the Square, the parade moved single-file down Austin Boulevard to the National Guard armory. A mountain of quilts was erected behind a podium where dignitaries were to speak at the ceremony held to hand over the quilts to the battalion.
The parade started with 399 quilts, but as the group was walking in the doors to the armory, another four quilts were handed to volunteers, bringing the total to 403, well beyond double the original goal of 153.
Those who spoke at the ceremony included Nevada Mayor Tim Moore, Missouri State Representative Barney Fisher, Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Brent Carter and Keirin Hatch and Ann Jones, the mother-daughter team who organized the effort.
The Nevada High School swing choir sang a Christmas medley prior to the ceremony and also performed the national anthem after the colors had been posted by the Nevada High AFJROTC.
Wes Anderson, minister at Community Christian Church in Nevada opened the ceremony saying, "Through the years, Americans have stepped up to do what they can in times of need and that's what the quilters are doing today."
He explained how quilts had been a part of American war efforts from as long ago as the Civil War. "This is not about whether you're for or against the war -- this project is all about soldiers."
"From the first time I heard about this project I thought, 'what a nice way to show our support and to send them something from home," said Moore, who also said that he wished the soldiers all the best and a quick and safe return home.
Fisher injected a bit of humor into the event saying that in his experience that the most dangerous job is that of a mail clerk when there is no mail. "You have made a hero out of a mail clerk," he said. On a more serious note, he added, "The thing that we need to do is pray for these soldiers and pray that in a few months, all of these blankets will come home."
Hatch then addressed the crowd to thank all of the people who had made the effort a success, "we just had supporters come out of the woodwork."
She said that some people doubted the likelihood of such an effort succeeding but, "when we started this project, we were sure that it could be done." She paused and looked back over her shoulder at the five-foot high mound of quilts and said, "and just look what happened."
When Jones took the podium, she was at a loss for words, she was visibly moved by the outpouring of support she had seen from the community and, at first, could only say, "This is so cool."
She regained her composure though, and thanked all those who had helped in the effort, whether it be by people making quilts, individuals providing money, businesses offering discounts and many other individual and group efforts to make the project a success. She then officially handed the quilts over to Carter, who graciously accepted them.
Carter then presented Jones with a certificate that read, "for your untiring dedication to the welfare of soldiers assigned to Alpha Company 735th Main Support Battalion. Your devotion and generosity to the cause of the modern soldier will ensure the warmth of Nevada will be kept with every soldier. The quilts will provide a physical warmth and a symbolic warmth that our soldiers are always in our thoughts and prayers."
After the ceremony concluded, seven more quilts were handed in and Jones and Hatch said they wouldn't be surprised if a few more were turned in over the next few days.
The quilts will be mailed to the soldiers of Company A as soon as they have a mailing address in country.