Quilts: More Than Just Warmth
Quilts offer comfort, warmth, and are often beautiful works of art. They spark memories and tell stories. But there's another, even more powerful purpose a quilt can serve: bringing peace to our nation's defenders.
That's the heart of Quilts of Valor, an organization born from a mother's desire to comfort her son after his service. It has blossomed into a national movement with a vital mission.
Energizers Join the Cause
This movement has found a home with the Barry-Mobile Chapter of Energizers, a group of Alabama Power retirees dedicated to continuing their community service.
Linda Tipp, president-elect of the Barry-Mobile Energizers, has been sewing Quilts of Valor since 2016. Her passion ignited when her late husband received one of these quilts.
"Many of us grew up with quilting in our families," says Tipp. "Quilting is all about comfort and warmth." Quilts of Valor aims to provide that same sense of comfort, peace, and healing to recipients.
"For me, it's a ministry," Tipp explains. "I come from a military family, and I still have children serving. It's a way to honor their service."
Stitching with Patriotism
Linda Tipp is not only a talented quilter but also a passionate recruiter. Maria Thompson, treasurer of the Barry-Mobile Energizers, joined Quilts of Valor thanks to Tipp.
"I've sewed my whole life, but I never thought about quilting much," Thompson says. After taking a class in 2014, she was hooked. "I just fell in love with it. When I heard about Quilts of Valor, I said, 'That's what I want to be involved in.'"
With every stitch, Thompson feels a surge of patriotism. "I just think about our veterans and what they mean to our country and what they've sacrificed."
A Growing Movement
Catherine Roberts, the Blue Star mom who founded Quilts of Valor, envisioned soldiers finding comfort in a blanket. That vision became a reality.
"When they came home, as so many of our veterans do, they bring their demons home with them," Tipp says. Quilts of Valor is a way to help with the healing process.
"Now we have chapters in every state, and in the last 22 years, we have awarded over 416,000 quilts to active-duty service members and veterans across this nation," she says.
Artistry and Dedication
Tipp's chapter in Baldwin County has awarded close to 1,000 quilts. The quilts follow certain guidelines but still allow for artistic expression.
"The design is that they be patriotic – mostly red, white, and blue," Tipp says. "But it's left up to the quilter as to what design they want to do."
Thompson estimates that each quilt takes between 10 and 30 hours to complete. "It's an honor to know that your quilt is going to go down in a family lineage."
Honoring Veterans
At a recent luncheon, Tipp and Thompson awarded quilts to fellow Energizers who are also veterans.
"The warmth and the love that was in that room was just phenomenal," Tipp says.
For Tipp, the reward is in honoring veterans. "It’s another way to say, ‘We acknowledge your service. We thank you for your service and your valor to this country.’"
