KINGMAN — The Kingman Quilters Guild has awarded another Veterans’ Honor Quilt. The recipient this time is retired Army Sergeant Lee Smith. Smith’s military career spanned 12 years.
This quilt was created by Linda Valin and joins the estimated nearly 600 such honor quilts that have been fashioned by Guild members in the 30 years of the organization’s existence, according to a long time member. Kingman Guild President Dorelle Carpenter reports that the Honor Quilt presentations are a major project of the nearly 50 Guild members.
The actual presentation was by Guild Honor Quilt Coordinator Judy Hood. In the introduction, Ms. Hood said the Guild members, “humbly offer these quilts to our brave military personnel in the hope that the quilt will bring physical comfort in a visual reminder of our ‘thank you’ for all our veterans have done to protect our nation’s freedom.”
Meeting attendees at the Veterans’ Honor Quilt award ceremony pose for their newsletter group celebration photo commemorating the 30th year of existence. The Kingman Quilters Guild was formed in September, 1995.
Sergeant Smith enlisted in the Women’s Army Corp in 1969. The term “WAC” was ended in 1979 before Smith retired in 1981. She took basic training at Fort Gordon in Georgia, followed by a military intelligence assignment at Arizona’s Fort Huachuca, southeast of Tucson. After that, was two years in the Army Reserves, then she reactivated as a military police officer, and finally finished off her career as a drill sergeant where it all started in Georgia at Fort Gordon.
The Kingman Guild President Dorelle Carpenter talked about her membership’s feelings about the Veterans’ Honor Quilt.
“It’s a process and an honor, when we present these quilts. The recipients are very touched by the fact that they are recognized for their service. And to me, it’s not just the recipient but it’s the recipient’s family who have given of their time.”
The Guild meets at 9:30 am on the second Monday of the month at the Journey Church on Bank Street in Kingman.
