Representatives of the Quilts of Valor Foundation, and the Quilt Shop Quilters group in Wakefield made a special presentation at this year’s Veterans Day program – presenting Quilts of Valor they had made to local veterans.
Lisa Salmon, Eunice Johnson, Vickie Loofe and Charlene Schroeder served as the presenters and gave some background information about each recipient to add to the special presentation.
From the presentation:
“In 2003, a quilter named Catherine Roberts started the movement that became Quilts of Valor when her son was deployed in Iraq. Since that time, over 362,000 Quilts of Valor have been awarded. The mission of the Quilts of Valor is to cover active service members and veterans with comforting and healing quilts. The quilts represent over 10,000 youth and adults making Quilts of Valor and their caring for service men, women and veterans. Often when Quilts of Valor are constructed, they are sewn and quilted with prayers for our service members and veterans.”
“A Quilt of Valor is NOT a charity quilt. A Quilt of Valor is NOT a blanket. If you are a quilter, you know a quilt consists of three layers held together by its quilting stitches. We like to think of the layers in this way:
~The top of the quilt with its many colors, shapes and fabrics, represents the communities and the many individuals we are.
~The batting, the filler, is the center of the quilt, its warmth. It represents our hope that this quilt will bring warmth, comfort, peace and healing to the individual who receives it.
~The backing is the strength that supports the other layers. It represents the strength of the veteran, the support of their family, communities, and nation. Each stitch that holds the layers together represents love and gratitude, and even the tears of the maker.”
“On your quilt is a label that will tell you a little bit about your quilt. As of today, the story of this quilt becomes YOUR story. We hope you will keep this quilt with you as a tangible reminder that there are thousands of women and men across this land who are forever in your debt.”
Those Veterans receiving a “Quilt of Valor” this Veterans Day included:
Ben Donner
Ben entered the United States Army National Guard on April 29, 1992. He is the third generation to have served in the 134th Infantry in Wayne, Nebraska. Ben’s military occupational specialty was Infantryman. On June 6, 1994, Ben was deployed to Normandy, France, where he served on the Honor Guard for the 134th during the 50th anniversary of D-Day. In 1996, Ben was deployed to Hohenfels, Germany, where he was in the Opposition Force for training NATO soldiers going to Bosnia. Ben received several medals and ribbons related to the Army National Guard, including the “Admirals in the Navy of Nebraska” medal. On May 30, 2000, Ben was honorably discharged at the rank of Specialist E-4.
Jennifer (Salmon) Hurley
Jennifer entered the United States Air Force, Nebraska Air National Guard on November 25, 1986. She served our country as a Production Control Specialist. Jennifer was stationed at the Nebraska Air National Guard in Lincoln, Nebraska. During her eight years of service, she received a number of medals and awards including the Air Force Achievement Medal. On November 24, 1994, Jennifer was honorably discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant E-5.
Robert (Bob) Hurley
Bob entered the United States Army on September 16, 1983. His military occupation was Communications-Electronics Officer. Bob was stationed in West Berlin from 1984 to 1986, where he served as a Military Police Officer. During that time, he also served with the U. S. State Department, U. S. Mission Berlin from 1985 to 1986. Bob was also stationed at Ft. Gordon, Georgia; Ft. Lewis, Washington; and Ft. Riley, Kansas. From 2004 to 2005, Bob was deployed to Iraq, serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Bob received several medals during his service: the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (4 devices), Good Conduct Medal, Army of Occupational Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. Bob was honorably discharged on April 27, 2006, at the rank of Major.
Scott Johnson
Scott entered the United States Army in May 2001. During his time with the Army, Scott served in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and did two tours of duty in Iraq. His military occupation was as a light wheel mechanic and truckdriver. Scott was in the 3rd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery Brigade. He was honorably discharged in May 2009 at the rank of Specialist E-4.
Kim Kline
Kim entered the United States Navy on June 4, 1975. During his time with the Navy, Kim was stationed in Annapolis, Maryland; Vallejo, California; Newport, Rhode Island; Norfolk, Virgina; Great Lakes, Illinois; Athens, Georgia; Williamsburg, Virginia; San Diego, California; Dayton, Ohio; and Manama Bahrain. Kim was also deployed to several locations, some to include the Western Pacific/South China Sea; North Atlantic/North Sea/Baltic Sea; Mediterranean Sea; Beirut Lebanon; Antarctica; and the Navy Central Command/5th Fleet Supply based in Manama Bahrain. During his early career with the Navy, Kim served as Shipboard Engineer and then promoted to Logistics Manager. Kim also received the Surface Warfare and Supply designation before being honorably discharged as Commander O-5 on June 30, 1996.
Sebastian Kramer
Warrant Officer Sebastian Kramer joined the United States Nebraska Army National Guard in 2008. After AIT, Seb began working for the Army as a mechanic in Norfolk, transferring to Mead. Seb went to the 267th Support Maintenance Department in 2021. He continues to serve our country today, as the Assistant Supervisor for the Mead Maintenance Department.
Keith Krueger
Keith enlisted in the United States Air Force in August 1974. His duty stations included Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia; Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska; and Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska. Keith was assigned to the United States Air Force Band as a trumpet player and leader of the AAC Brass and the SAC Brass. In July 1984, Keith was honorably discharged at the rank of Technical Sergeant E-6.
Mariana McCutcheon
Mariana entered the United States Nebraska Army National Guard on December 28, 2007. She is currently active, serving as Chief Warrant Officer Two.
Mason Nixon
Mason enlisted in the United States Nebraska Army National Guard, on September 3, 2009. After completing basic combat training and his AIT as a Motor Transport Operator, Mason went to airborne school in Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was running 15-plus miles a day and preparing for jumping out of an aircraft at 1600 feet; an experience he will never forget. Mason was sent to Kabul, Afghanistan in July 2010. He worked at the headquarters of the International Security Assistance Force base, driving NTVs and transporting VIPs. He was assigned to the Force Reintegration Cell, a very diverse unit made up of people from 19 different countries, under a 2-star British general. The personnel he escorted throughout the City of Kabul, met with Taliban leaders who worked as informants. Around May 2, 2011, Mason and the others were pulled off of running missions but were not informed as to why. Instead, they started pulling base security. The environment grew hostile after the killing of Bin Laden. In July 2011, Mason returned to Nebraska. On September 3, 2013, Mason was honorably discharged at the rank of E-2.
Alex Nunez
Alex entered the United States Army on November 20, 2015. He was stationed in Wayne, Nebraska, serving as a Motor Transport Operator. Alex received honorable mentions for being top in his class and an individual achievement medal. He also spent three months in Omaha for the COVID relief. Alex was honorably discharged on November 19, 2021, at the rank of Specialist E-4.
Pete Pagan
Pete was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the United States Marine Corps on October 24, 1964. After serving at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and taking part in the First Dominican Republic Operation, he was awarded the Expeditionary Medal and promoted to 1st Lt. In 1966, Pete served in Okinawa, Japan, and was promoted to Captain. Returning to the States, he served as the Casualty Assistance Officer at the Golden Gate National Cemetery and made 40 death notifications to families. In 1969, he attended Data Processing Training at Sheppard Air Force Base. From there, he went to Georgetown, Virginia, where he became a Systems Officer. Pete was serving in Washington, DC, at the United States Marine Corps Headquarters when he resigned his commission on November 1, 1970, at the rank of Captain.
Alex Salmon
Alex entered the United States Air Force, Nebraska Air National Guard on January 31, 1997. Alex was stationed at the 155th Air Refueling Wing in Lincoln, Nebraska, serving as a Public Affairs Officer. Alex earned the Air National Guard Print Journalist of the Year award in 2010 and 2011, along with multiple National Guard media awards for journalism and photography. Alex also earned several medals and awards, some to include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, AF Outstanding Unit Award, and AF Organizational Excellence Award to name a few. Alex was honorably discharged on June 8, 2018, at the rank of Captain O-3.
Elliot Salmon
Elliot entered Inactive Service in the United States Air Force on June 29, 1990. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and was commissioned on June 1, 1994. Elliot served as an Acquisition Program Manager. He was stationed at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio from 1994 to 1998; Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska from 1998 to 2001; and Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts from 2001 to 2004. Elliot was honorably discharged on September 27, 2004, at the rank of Captain O-3.
Nathan Salmon
Nathan entered the United States Air Force, Nebraska Air National Guard on May 10, 1995. He was stationed at the Nebraska Air National Guard in Lincoln, Nebraska, serving as a Medical Laboratory Technologist. Nathan was named Outstanding Airman of the Year; received the Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (4 devices), Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal (4 devices), the National Defense Service Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon, the Nebraska National Guard Legion of Merit, the Individual Achievement Medal, and the Emergency Service Medal. Nathan was honorably discharged on April 11, 2016, at the rank of Technical Sergeant E-6.
Matt Stanton
Matt entered the United States Air Force on July 25, 1996. During his enlistment, he served as an Aircraft Electrical and Environmental Systems Craftsman. After completing his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, Matt was stationed in various locations including Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas; Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska; Luke Air Force Base, Arizona; and Kunsan Air Force Base, South Korea. From 1997-2001, Matt was deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia for Operation Southern Watch and Operation Desert Fox and to Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England in 1998-1999 for the Kosovo War/Conflict. Matt also earned several medals and awards, some to include the Air Force Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, NCO Professional Military Education Ribbon, Korean Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, to name a few. On October 24, 2006, Matt was honorably discharged from the Air Force at the rank of Staff Sergeant E-5.
Cameron Stickley
Cameron entered the United States Army National Guard on December 12, 2015. During his service in the 189th Transportation Company, he was a Motor Transport Operator. Cameron was a distinguished honor graduate from Basic Training as the top shooter of his class; he shot a 39/40 targets on range qualification. On December 12, 2021, Cameron was honorably discharged as a Specialist E-4.
Dennis Tullberg
Dennis considers it an honor to have served his country for six years in the United States Nebraska National Guard. On May 25, 1980, he attended boot camp in Fort Benning, Georgia. Dennis was a member of the first ever All Nebraska Infantry Platoon, Battalion 1, 134th Infantry, along with 47 other Nebraska soldiers, including Wakefield classmates. The platoon achieved the title of “honor platoon” seven out of the eight weeks. Dennis served during the 1985 Grenada Crisis, and each summer, during his military career, he served at Camp Ripley, Minnesota, and Fort Carson, Colorado. Dennis was honorably discharged at the rank of Specialist E-4.