Ewing veterans receive Quilts of Valor

Approximately 65 years after serving in the United States military, three Ewing veterans were awarded Quilts of Valor, for their service. Robert Bartak, Leonard Hawk and Dwayne Hobbs received the quilts Dec. 12, during a gathering at the Ewing Sanders American Legion Post 214.

American Legion Auxiliary president, Kathleen Jorgensen, said a blue-star mom, Catherine Roberts, started Quilts of Valor in 2003.

"With a son deployed in Iraq, a gunner sitting atop a Humvee, she felt only 10 seconds away from panic," Jorgensen said.

During a dream, Roberts saw her son wrapped in a quilt. Roberts found volunteers to make the quilts out of donated materials.

Each quilt is machine or hand quilted. The QOV Foundation recommends a 60" x 70" quilt. Each quilt is labeled and includes the recipient's name and names of the quilter and binder, city and state of residence and location of the award.

Since the foundation's inception, more than 151,000 quilts have been awarded to combat service members and veterans.

Jorgensen said Ewing Legion and auxiliary members and friends want to make sure "all our local veterans are awarded with a quilt."

"All veterans are heroes," she said.

Robert Bartak

Glenda Adams made Bartak's quilt. She presented it to him Sunday.

Bartak joined the Army in March 1955. He attended basic training in Arkansas and eventually moved to Ft. Riley, Kansas, where he worked at the airfield.

At Ft. Eustis, Virginia, Bartak trained as an airframe repairman.

His service ended at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, in March 1957.

Bartak said he very much appreciate being a Quilt of Valor recipient and "to be there with Leonard and Dwyane to receive it."

Leonard Hawk

Amy Jorgensen designed the quilt given to Hawk. Doris Ann Bollwitt made the presentation.

Hawk joined the Army, Oct. 7, 1957, and served 18 months.

He served at Ft. Lewis, Washington and Ft. Richardson, Alaska. At the time, Hawk served in a radar platoon and a combat support company.

"We had a couple tanks and anti-tank guns. We just got shifted around. I was with the radar platoon in Alaska," he said. "I was in different places but I never did use a mortar."

As a member of the radar platoon, his job consisted of "scouting the area for enemy coming."

Hawk said it's a great honor to receive a Quilt of Valor.

"It was a privilege to serve our country," he said.

Dwayne Hobbs

Adams also made Hobbs' quilt.

Hobbs joined the Army in 1954 and served until 1957. He was stationed in Germany for 31 months near Eutigen.

Hobbs said he drove a five-ton dump truck every day while stationed overseas.

"All we did was haul stuff in Germany," he said.

Hobbs said receving a Quilt of Valor is "pretty neat."

"I earned it," he said. "All have."