The seven Tama County area servicemen honored with a Quilt of Valor are pictured following the Ceremony held in Garwin City Park. From the left are Don Hein, Bruce Muecke, James Lee Jensen, Robert Nielsen and Marvin Staker. Standing in back are Lynn B. Shepard and Alan Tichy. PHOTO BY MARGARET THOMSEN

GARWIN – Seven Tama County area men were presented with a Quilt of Valor on Wednesday, July 3, as part of the July 4 Freedom Days celebration held in Garwin. Members of the Central Iowa Quilt Sew-ciety were on hand to help with the presentation of the quilts.

These men were honored for their service to this country. Each of these men had disrupted their lives and chose to serve their country. The Quilts of Valor is the brainchild of Blue Star Mom Catherine Roberts of Seaford, Delaware. Her son had been deployed to Iraq and she wanted to see the returning warriors welcomed home with the love and gratitude they deserved.

Since 2003 the Quilts of Valor has become a national grassroots community effort honoring veterans of all ages. The quilts are stitched with love, prayers and healing thoughts. To this date 393,702 quilts have been presented over the United States. Central Iowa Sew-ciety began in 2015 and has presented more than 550 quilts.

Pastor John Granchie of Peace United Church of Christ in Gladbrook offered a welcoming prayer.

The veterans honored included:

Members of the Central Iowa Sew-ciety were on hand to present seven Quilts of Valor in Garwin during the "Garwin Freedom Days" celebration. This group has created and presented more than 550 Quilts of Valor since it began in 2015. Picture (l-r), Rose Russell, Charlene Hulin, Deb Husak, Jaylene Primus, Lyan Liubov, Carrie Glessner, state Rep. Dean Fisher of Montour, Marvis Drew, Linda Cooper, Sherly Goos and Terry Lyon. PHOTO BY MARGARET THOMSEN

Marvin Staker, United States Army, Korean War, October, 1952-1954. Marvin was a Sergeant and was an Ammunition Guard as he looked for mines in fields.

Bruce Muecke, United States Navy, Vietnam, December 1961-June 1965. He was an E-3 Airplane Mechanic.

Donald Hein, United States Army, served in Vietnam from 1963-1965 and was a Squad Leader, Sergeant E-5, 1st Cavalry Airmobile, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry, Bravo Company.

Lynn B. Shepard, United States Army, served in Vietnam from 1966-1968. He was a Bridge Specialist 12C20.

Robert D, “Bob” Nielsen, United States Army, served in Vietnam, May 1969-November 1971. He was a Fire Direction Specialist and then Personnel Specialist/Specialist 5.

James Lee Jensen, United States Army, served in the Vietnam Era, September 1972-September 1975. His position was 64C30 MTR TRN, Specialist 4, Combat Engineer Battalion.

Alan Tichy, Iowa Army National Guard, 1986-1999, and Iowa Air National Guard 1999-2013. He served in the Cold War, which formally ended in 1991. He was in Kuwait, 2001, Operation Southern Watch; Qatar, 2005, Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Ballard, Iraq, 2008 and 2009 for OEF/OIF.

The ceremony ended with the Service Member Recognition as the Armed Service Medley was played. Members of the large crowd were asked to stand as their branch’s song was played.

The afternoon closed as those gathered joined in singing “God Bless the USA’ by Lee Greenwood.