Page 18 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2021

COAST NOTE
QUILTS FOR A CAUSE
story by Gabbie Bowden photos courtesy of Quilts of Valor
“Wrapping the quilt around the veteran is the most moving part of a Quilts of Valor ceremony.” Gretchen Breland, a navy veteran herself, was already a seasoned quilter when she was given the opportunity to lead
the Gulf Coast chapter of Quilts of Valor (QOV). She has watched her group grow in Gulfport and expand to Wiggins. Now, she is looking for QOV hosts in the Bay St. Louis and
Pascagoula areas, knowing just how important these quilts are to those touched by war.
QOV began with a dream – Catherine Roberts’ very literal dream of a despairing war veteran finding comfort under
a beautiful handmade quilt. Eighteen years later, QOV
has awarded over 270,000 quilts to those ‘touched by war,’ including: active-duty servicemen, veterans, casualty assistance providers, medical aids, supply deliverers, and consistent emotional supporters. Any service member or living veteran
is eligible for a QOV, as well as anyone serving at the Dover Mortuary Facility.
When Gretchen first joined QOV, she herself didn’t have a QOV quilt. She had one request for the volunteers: that her quilt include her mother’s unfinished quilt blocks, as she recently passed away. The ceremony had a deep impact in her life, and she understands on a personal level the power of a well-crafted,
handmade quilt. “It’s a comfort,” she says. “Being able to wrap up in it and cocoon is very comforting.”
QOV quilts are crafted with high quality 100 percent cotton and quilted by hand or machine. They can include any pattern, so long as it isn’t juvenile, and patriotic colors tend to be the most popular. QOV runs
entirely on donations, including
fabric, batting, and, of course,
volunteers’ time.
Gretchen particularly hopes that more young people
will get involved with QOV. “Not many young people
are involved right now.
Before COVID-19, the
Girl Scouts in Long Beach
were going to learn how
to cut fabric and put quilt
squares together. We are
always looking for those
opportunities – if any
church groups or youth
groups want to do a community service project, this would be perfect.”
To become involved with the Gulf Coast QOV chapter, contact Gretchen Breland at gretchen.breland@qovf.org or 228.861.3034.
18 | July 2021
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