Vines to Cellar Owner Awarded Quilt for Service in Kuwait

The Port Washington Women's Club awarded local business owner CJ Wirsching-Neuser with a Quilt of Valor for her overseas service as part of a national community service effort.

Wirsching-Neuser is co-owner of Vines to Cellar in Port Washington with her husband. Together, the two have served more than 50 years in the military. Wirsching-Neuser returned from serving in Kuwait in July.

The quilt was made by Women's Club member, Linda Brown, according to member Kathie Schaefer.

"Quilts of Valor is a (General Federation of Women's Clubs-WI) special project," Schaefer said in an e-mail to Patch. "Since 2003, Quilts of Valor has become a national grassroots community service effort, connecting the honored veterans and wounded combat serviceman and veterans. 

"The Quilts of Valor are tangible evidence that someone cares. Veterans — recent, and those from the past — come home from military service with the intent of getting on with their lives. They may not realize until later how much their experiences have impacted their lives. In the same way, those who receive quilts may not realize their importance to others until much later," Schaefer said.

As of May 2012, Schaefer said more than 65,000 of the lap-size quilts have been awarded to service members and veterans nationwide through the Quilts of Valor program.