The Mountain Mama Quilters Quilt of Valor Group #24479 in Berkeley Springs awarded Albert Beyner a Quilt of Valor in Chester, West Virginia on Saturday, September 12. His is the 500th quilt that has been made by this local group since they formed.
Leader Dottie O’Toole met Veteran Beyner back on October 23, 2023, while in the Wheeling area awarding a Quilt of Valor to another veteran. Striking up a conversation at the local Dollar General Store, Beyner stated that he didn’t know what a Quilt of Valor was and he had never heard of or ever received one.
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When O’Toole returned home, she nominated Beyner for his Quilt of Valor through NAMS, the Nomination and Award Management System for the National Quilts of Valor Foundation. After several years and several attempts by the Quilts of Valor Foundation to award Beyner his quilt, Dottie O’Toole decided to travel to Chester, West Virigina to award this quilt.
The Mountain Mama Quilters consist of 17 members, who all play an active role in the creation of these special civilian awards to our veterans who have been touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.
The group is celebrating 10 years of quilt making since its beginning in 2016. The awarding of the quilt of Valor to Mr. Beyner is a major milestone for the group, marking 500 quilts awarded to veterans.
Albert Beyner served his country in the Navy during the Vietnam War in the United States Navy from 1974 to 1978.
Each quilt made and presented comes with this message:
“The Quilts of Valor® Foundation wishes to recognize you for your service to our nation. We consider it our privilege to do so. Though we may never know the extent of your sacrifice to protect and defend the United States of America, we award you this Quilt of Valor® as an expression of gratitude from a grateful nation. Thank you Veteran (name) for your service.”
Veterans and active service members can be nominated for a Quilt of Valor. The Mountain Mama Quilters awards quilts in the Berkely Springs and surrounding areas. The group also travels to award quilts in special cases where there are no active groups in other areas.
Nominate a veteran or active service member by picking up a nomination form at the American Legion and other locations around Berkeley Springs. Nominations can also be made online at QOVF.org.
