“You’ll see the sparkle in their eyes.”

Area Quilts of Valor representative Nancy McClain was quoted after a ceremony held for veterans being awarded quilts at the Lyon County Fair in August.

Fast forward to Veterans Day on Nov. 11 and that sparkle in the eyes of veterans returned.

“You all, every single one of you, matter to all of us,” McClain told another group of veterans awarded quilts of valor ceremony at Boulder Estates in Marshall.

“A lot of people think this is just another day, but it’s not,” McClain also said.

Thanks to numerous volunteers and local officials, Veterans Day was a special day recognizing special people. Awarding the quilts was not the only way veterans were honored. There were speeches expressing gratitude. And at Hill Street Place in Marshall, veterans were given red carnations.

The tradition of awarding the quilts in the Marshall area goes back to 2017.

McClain explained during the Boulder Estates ceremony that the national Quilts of Valor program was started by a mother who wanted to find a way to comfort and welcome soldiers returning from the service overseas. She reported that foundation has given away 426,000 quilts since 2003 and the local quilters will have presented 500 quilts to area veterans since 2017.

Back in September, Quilts of Valor state coordinator Janet Knafla made her visit to Marshall to meet the team of volunteers who make the local quilts. During the visit, those volunteers were recognized for their dedicated work.

We are glad those volunteers were recognized. They continue to make a difference for countless veterans. Their dedication, one stitch at a time, means the world to every one of those 500 recipients of quilts since 2017.

How do we know?

Just look at the sparkle in their eyes.

That moment tells veterans they are truly appreciated.