MUSKEGON, Mich. — Inside the Muskegon Bowman Archery Club on Thursday, Nov. 7, a small group of veterans sat at the front of the room. Loved ones looked on as members of the Shining Stars Quilting Bee draped a one-of-a-kind quilt over each of the veterans' shoulders, one by one. A story was told about each of the veterans and their time in service before the sounds of thunderous clapping filled the club.
U.S. Army veteran Ken Giddis knows what it feels like to be one of those veterans at the front of the room. He was honored with a Quilt of Valor two years ago in Montague. And that came after decades of feeling unappreciated for his service.
"I got drafted in service. That was in '67, and I served until '69. Didn't have a whole lot of choice back in that day," he said.
"Got shipped over to Korea. Found out that's not a fun place to go. When I got there, I didn't know why I was sent to Korea, because so many men and women were heading to Vietnam in that time."
Ken's service was part of the Korean DMZ Conflict, also known by some as the Second Korean War. It was a series of clashes along the Korean Demilitarized Zone from 1966 to 1969.
"My first combat mission that I was on was on Easter Sunday, when I found out that we're not playing games over there. When I was there, there were over 54,000 Americans over there," he said.
"When I came home, back in that time, the troops weren't getting very good welcome coming home."
Ken remembers being denied service at a bar when he was in his uniform, despite the fact that he had three forms of identification showing that he was 23 years old.
"When I tell people I went to Korea, they say, 'Well, you didn't see any battle then. You didn't go to Vietnam.' We lost a lot of guys over there. When I was there, I was in battle more than once - in combat, I should say," he said.
"That was painful. It still is sometimes, when I think about it. We went over and did what we were asked to do. The job is never easy. It's not fun."
Making service members and veterans like Ken feel appreciated for the sacrifices they have made for the country is exactly why Quilts of Valor exists.
"They're a quality, handmade quilt. One hundred percent cotton. They can either be hand sewn or they can be machine sewn. We have over 600 chapters in the nation," said Shining Stars coordinator Cheryl Nicholson.
"Over 390,000 quilts have been made since the 21 year history of the Quilts of Valor Foundation."
The Shining Stars have made more than 100 quilts in the two and a half years that they've been part of the effort.
"We get together twice a month - a group of about 20 of us women. We meet at Lakeshore Sewing in Muskegon and at Abbi Mays in North Muskegon, and they are so supportive. The whole community is," Cheryl said.
"Making the quilts is our way to honor them for the sacrifices that they've given for our nation. They have left home, family, and friends to serve, and whether it's in a time of crisis or a time of peace, we feel they need to be honored for what they have sacrificed for our country."
The Shining Stars have made presentations as far north as Montague and as far south as Grand Haven.
"If they're medically unable to go to a presentation. We go to them. We do a lot of nursing homes. And, you know, we make it happen," said coordinator Sallie Lawrence.
"It's hard not to be very emotional because they are so appreciative, the vets are."
U.S. Army veteran Bill Hepworth was honored with a quilt in 2023.
"It’s just an honor - just the pride, the privilege to even receive that, and everything we've done is just kind of all comes together," he said.
"I hope that a lot more people get to receive this honor - this recognition. They absolutely deserve it. Anybody and everybody that's ever been in the military deserves it."
If you'd like to nominate someone to receive a quilt, you can email the Shining Stars at Nicholson.cheryl@frontier.com. Any service member or veteran who was honorably discharged is eligible. The group is hoping to honor more women veterans and Korean War veterans in the future.
If you'd like to donate to the effort, you can mail a check to 315 W. Tyler Rd, Muskegon, MI 49445. Checks should be made out to the Quilts of Valor Foundation and you're asked to write Shining Stars #85751 in the memo line.
Ken is looking forward to more veterans receiving the recognition he says they deserve.
"When I look at [my quilt], it's like finally being welcomed home," he said.
"I try not to carry the anger I felt when I first come home, how I was treated. I don't want to carry that anymore, because we do have people walking up to me and they say, ‘Thank you for your service.’ And sometimes I say, ‘We did it for you.’"
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