Elkhart Rotary Club recognizes veterans alongside Quilts of Valor

ELKHART, Ind. -- On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month is when Veterans Day took effect in 1918. As Veterans Day approaches, a first-of-its-kind event was held Monday, designed to honor those who've served.  From special coins to handmade quilts - the Elkhart community is finding ways to recognize the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.

For the last 10 years the Elkhart Rotary Club has honored first responders. Starting in June, they planned to honor veterans, with a rifle salute, taps, flags, and more.

"For the first responder lunch we give a challenge coin to the police, fire, and medical, so we thought we'd do the same thing for the veterans." says Elkhart Rotarian and program host Tom Shoff. "So, we found a service coin, we gave it to all the veterans, and next week all the Rotarians will take one of these with them and when they see a veteran in the airport or traveling out in the street, they'll hand them one of these coins."

Passing out flyers at VFWs since June, this Veterans Day event had a special twist. Quilts of Valor were being presented. The hand-sewn utility quilts are given to people in active service and veterans. One vet who received a quilt was 98 years old, having served in Korea.

"That man was in the service before I was born," reflected Mary Ann Lienhart Cross who is on the leadership team for in the Bend Quilts of Valor. "I thought about my own father in the Korean conflict. People need to recognize the sacrifice that our veterans now and our veterans in the past have given so we have the freedom that we have."

Another honoree receiving a quilt was Evelyn Diaz, who says she keeps a low profile and was surprised to see she was nominated; because she lost touch with a lot of people after completing ten years of service in 2014.

"It's an honor." Diaz says. "It definitely separates this award from the standard military awards. Every stitch is designed and every quilt is designed for the vet so there's not one alike."

Following the ceremonial rifle salute, keynote speaker first arm Aaron Holmes made veterans, quilted or not, feel in community with one another-in his 16th year of active duty.

"These are all of our brothers and sisters no matter what branch that you're in. I definitely love it.  We can joke around a little bit, but that bond will never go away no matter what branch no matter what time no matter what day."