4 Veterans Wrapped In Comfort And Love By Quilts Of Valor In Newtown

NEWTOWN, PA — Four local veterans were wrapped with love and comfort on Saturday by members of the Crossing Quilts of Valor organization and the Washington Crossing Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.

During the DAR meeting held at Morrell Smith American Legion Post 440 in Newtown, the chapter's Crossing Quilts of Valor presented quilts to the four Bucks County veterans who had served their country as members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The veterans awarded quilts on Saturday were:

• William Redington, a U.S. Navy veteran who served during the Vietnam War and is a Purple Heart recipient.
• Brian MacGillivray, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps who served in the Persian Gulf War, with deployments including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq.
• Bennett Walsh, who served in the United States Marine Corps from 1992 to 2016 and saw combat in Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
• Jim McLaughlin, who served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and later continued his service with the Army National Guard from 1983 until 2001.

“Please know that all the stitches in our quilts are stitches of love," Sandra Billington told the veterans. "May these stitches and quilts wrap you in comfort and say, 'Welcome Home.'"

The Crossing Quilts of Valor is a group of women who have a love of quilting and a commitment to veterans. According to Jeanne Tharp, the chapter receives assignments from the National Quilts of Valor for veterans, who have been nominated online to receive quilts. The group then meets regularly to fulfill the assignments.

The National Quilts of Valor organization was founded in 2003 by Catherine Roberts, a quilter and military mother. Catherine recruited volunteers who donated their time and materials to make quilts for active military and veterans. Since then, more than 400,000 Quilts of Valor have been awarded.

Statt, Johanna Troy, Jeanne Tharp, Marilyn Konicky and Kathleen Helm.

The Crossing Quilts of Valor and the WCDAR expressed deep gratitude for the active military and
veterans’ service and for the opportunity to honor the four special veterans.