- April 25, 2024
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After a time of waiting, the Port Orange Quilts of Valor group will now have a place for its members to work.
According to Terry Burtchell, Volusia County QOV group leader, the group will now meeting at the Port Orange Regional Library. The first date is set for Tuesday, Sept. 5 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The group will meet the first Tuesday of each month at the same time.
Burtchell spearheaded the organization's efforts locally by starting the quilting branch in Port Orange. Burtchell, whose son served in the Army, first became involved in QOV three years ago when she retired from her seamstress business, which she had for 35 years before she passed it down to her daughter.
Burtchell was the former state coordinator in Arizona before she and her husband moved to Port Orange about a year ago. She said once she moved to Florida she knew she wanted to continue making the quilts. Now her immediate goal is to educate the public and get volunteers.
Burtchell said her goal has been to focus on World War II, Korean War and Vietnam veterans. Though the organization usually hand-delivers the quilts to each individual, some are shipped to places such as the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The quilts are also used by members of the military who are returning to the U.S.
"I was looking for some way to give back to our veterans," Burtchell said. "Veterans have always been on my heart, so I wanted to get involved in this organization."
For more information or to join, visit qovf.org, call 290-0172 or email [email protected].
