Warm Hearth Village (WHV) resident Cindy Rethwill received a Quilt of Valor® on February 3 at VFW Post #5311 in Christiansburg recognizing her for her service in the Army from 1974 to 1978. Jenny Fields of the New River Valley QOV quilters presented Rethwill the quilt. Mardy Baker, WHV Director of Life Enrichment nominated Rethwill for the award last November. “Our resident veterans hold a special place in our hearts,” Baker said. We are proud of their service to our country and are delighted when they are recognized by other organizations that value them as we do.”
A Quilt of Valor® (QOV) is a quality handmade quilt that can be quilted by hand or machine. The quilts are awarded to service members or Veterans who have been touched by war to say thank you for their service and sacrifice for this country. A QOV must be a specific size, have the appropriate label, be awarded and recorded.
Rethwill was trained as a Military Personnel Clerk (Unit Clerk) and later cross-trained in logistics. Her first duty station was Fort Bliss, Texas, then Camp Casey, Korea and Baumholder, Germany. She was considered a Vietnam Era Veteran though she didn’t serve there. Her unit was the last training cycle designated as the Women’s Army Corps; then all units were co-ed.
“I am very proud to be recognized for what I have always felt was a privilege to serve my country even in a small way,” Rethwill said. At the ceremony, a younger woman recipient thanked Rethwill for leading the way for women like her and said if Rethwill hadn’t done her part back then the doors wouldn’t have been open for her. “It was an extremely emotional moment and difficult to hold back the tears. All we could do was hug each other and say thank you,” adds Rethwill.”
Warm Hearth Village congratulates Rethwill on receiving this honor and thanks all the Veterans in the Village for their service.
