The Missouri Freedom Quilters presented Quilts of Valor on Friday, April 26, 2024. Receiving quilts, from left to right, were: Colin Pritt, Clinton Criger, Stephen Harrington, Steven Umbarger, and Leonard Jones. (Ken Miller photo)

The Missouri Freedom Quilters presented Quilts of Valor to five local veterans on Friday morning, April 26, 2024, in Rock Port.

A quilt was presented to Leonard M. Jones, an E5 with the United States Army who served April 8, 1953, through May 2, 1955. He was stationed at Fort Ord, California, and Fort Lewis, Washington.

Thomas Colin Pritt was presented a quilt for his service as a Sergeant 1st Class in the United States Army as a Green Beret, 7th Group, Dragon Force. He served from 1966 to 1971 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and in Vietnam.

Steven Umbarger was presented a quilt for his service with the United States Army from 1966 to 1968. He served at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Fort Meade, Maryland, and Camp Enari in Pleiku, Vietnam.

Stephen Harrington was also one of the recipients. He was a corporal in the United States Marine Corps and served from 1968-1970 at San Diego in the recruit depot at Camp Pendleton and in the Vietnam 1 Corp.

Another quilt recipient was Clinton Criger. Clint served in the United States Army as a Specialist E4 from 1995 to 2003. He served in Kirch Goens, Germany, Glessen, Germany, and Bosnia.

The Missouri Freedom Quilters is a local group of women who dedicate their time and talent to making quilts for local veterans. These patriotically designed Quilts of Valor have a label sewn into each one detailing the name of the veteran who is receiving the quilt and information about his or her service. So far, the group has had the honor of presenting Quilts of Valor to more than 130 Atchison County veterans. Any person who has served in any branch of the military and has an honorable or general discharge qualifies for a quilt (quilts are not awarded posthumously). If you are an Atchison County veteran who has not yet received a quilt, or you know of one, please call Sharon Groff at 660-744-2544 or Jean Mensen at 660-744-2085.