4-07-2022 4:58pm

VFW Auxiliary honors vets with Quilts of Valor

Cathy Suchoski, a member of Roscoe VFW Post 2955 Auxiliary, adjusts a Quilt of Valor on the shoulders of her son and veteran Nicholas Suchoski. The hand-made quilts were presented to Nicholas and four other area veterans as a thank-you for their service in a ceremony Tuesday, April 5.

The VFW Post 2955 Auxiliary in Roscoe honored five veterans in a special ceremony Tuesday, evening, April 5. Each was presented a hand-made quilt as an expression of gratitude for their service and as a gesture of comfort.

The quilts were made and donated by the Rockton/Roscoe League of Quilts of Valor.

“We honor you for leaving all you held dear to serve our country,” auxiliary member Cathy Suchoski said. “These Quilts of Valor unmistakably say thank you for your service, sacrifice and valor in serving our nation.”

Quilts of Valor came into being in 2003 when Catherine Roberts, a quilter, began stitching a quilt for her son when he was deployed to Iraq.

Since 2004, over 299,246 quilts have been awarded. The mission is to honor service members and veterans who have been touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.

Suchoski read the names of five young area veterans: “Four of them played army in my backyard,” she said. “They went to war and came back veterans.”

As their names were called, each veteran came forward and was wrapped in a quilt.

Roscoe VFW Post 2955 Auxiliary presented five young veterans with Quilts of Valor at a ceremony Tuesday evening, April 5. (L to R) David Fane, Robert Lewis, Garrett Nesheim, Nicholas Suchoski and Jeff Weaver. The hand-made quilts were presented as a gesture of thanks and gratitude for their service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

David Fane enlisted in the Navy in 2005. He was deployed to the Persian Gulf and to the Gulf of Oman. Fane served and was discharged as a second-class Aviation Ordinance man in 2010.

He lives in Roscoe. His Quilt of Valor was presented by Faye Weldon.

Robert Lewis enlisted in the National Guard, U.S Army in 2003. He was deployed to Iraq, 2005-2006, and honorably discharged as a Sergeant E-5 in 2009. He lives in South Beloit, IL

Heather Lewis wrapped her husband in his Quilt of Valor.

Garrett Nesheim enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2005. He was deployed to Afghanistan, 2009-2010.

He was honorably discharged as a Specialist E-4 in 2012.

He lives in Roscoe. Carli Jack assisted Nesheim in putting on his Quilt of Valor.

Nicholas Suchoski enlisted in the U.S Army in 2004. He was deployed to Germany in 2005, and was twice deployed to Iraq, 2005-2006 and 2007-2008.

Suchoski was honorably discharged, E-5, in 2009.

His mother Cathy Suchoski placed a Quilt of Valor around her son’s shoulders.

Jeff Weaver enlisted in the U.S. Marines in 2004. He was twice deployed to Iraq, 2005-2006 and 2007-2008.

Weaver was honorably discharged as a sergeant E-5 in 2010. He lives in Rockton.

Erin Weaver placed a Quilt of Valor around her husband.

Post Commander Ruben Hernandez thanked the veterans at the close of the program. “Thank you for honorably serving our nation with great distinction.”

A previous version of this story sometimes used the term "Quilt of Honor" instead of "Quilt of Valor." Quilts of Honor is the trademark of a different organization. We regret the error.