Quilts of Valor in L.S.

LIME SPRINGS - A Quilts of Valor ceremony was held at the Spring Apartments in Lime Springs on Friday, July 29 for four veterans who live in the complex — Brad Hovey (U.S. Navy), Arnie Kotval (U.S. Air Force), Ryan Palmer (U.S. Army) and Gary Price (U.S. Navy).

The event was hosted by another resident of the complex, Donna Lidtke, and her daughters, Roberta Hass and JoEllen Franke.

Hass belongs to the Picket Fence Patriotic Piecers of Prairie duChien, Wis.. They also have members from West Union and New Albin in Iowa. 

She explained the Quilt of Valor is like a hug. “The top is the love that went into making it. The middle is the warmth it will give the recipient, and the bottom is the protection.”

• Each veteran spoke a little about his service. Hovey joined the Navy in 1985. “I went in six ft. three inches and came out six ft. 10 inches. I became a cook and took care of the firefighting equipment.” He continues to enjoy cooking today.

Hovey told those attending the ceremony, “You guys are just as valuable as we were in the service. This is what we do it for.” 

• Kotval was in the Air Force from 1970-74. “I spent time in Alaska. I was a parachute packer. I saved two pilots.

• Palmer was in the Army. “I don’t know what to say other than ‘It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.’ It really taught me about who I was.”

• Price went into the Navy in March 1964 and got out early, in January 1968. “I was on the Vulcan, a repair ship.”

Everyone then enjoyed some refreshments in honor of Lidtke’s birthday.