The national program began in 2003, originating in the sewing room of a U.S. soldier's mom in Delaware.

The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.

QOVF has become a national grassroots community service effort, connecting the home-front with the country's wounded combat warriors and veterans.

Pulaski County has dozens of women who love to make quilt tops. They are loosely organized through clubs, churches and social media, and many have joined together to participate in the Quilts of Valor program.

"What a great community we have here in Pulaski County, Indiana," said Gayle Conner, one of the local event's organizers. "Thank you to the many businesses and individuals in our community who made donations to help us accomplish our vision.' Many willing hands, young and old, helped plan, cut, press, sew and bind these beautiful quilts with love, prayers and healing thoughts in every stitch."

A Quilt of Valor is a generous lap-sized quilt, made by a quilt-topper (the piecer) of quality fabrics, and finished by a machine quilter. After it has been bound, washed, labeled and wrapped in a presentation case, it is ready to be awarded.

The local ladies organized Saturday's program, which began with the Presentation of Colors by Boy Scout Troop 229 and concluded with a performance on bagpipes by brothers Zen and Roman Zupin.

See photos of most of the quilt presentations on the PulaskiPost.com Facebook page

The quilts were presented as follows:

 

2015 Quilts of Valor Pulaski County Recipients
Veteran: Carl Anspach
Donor: Winamac VFW Post 1728
Made by: Jan Moore
 
Veteran: Carl Brust
Donor: Kewanna Metal Specialties
Made by: Lois Hickle
 
Veteran: Harold Budd
Donor: Budd Agency
Made by: Edith DePoy
 
Veteran: Bill Cervenka
Donor: NCS Welding
Made by: Margaret Steinacker
 
Veteran: John Conner
Donor: Betty & Paul Daugirda
Made by: Gayle Conner 
 
Veteran: Don Cotner
Donor: Bob & Lynne Klitzman
Made by: Pam Burger
 
Veteran: Art Fox
Donor: VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post #1728
Made by: Bryn Zellers
 
Veteran: Jim Fredel
Donor: Curt & Phyllis Kramer
Made by: Phyllis Kramer
 
Veteran: Cliff Fritz
Donor: Bethel Bible Church
Made by: Bethel Bible Church Quilters
 
Veteran: Ralph Fritz
Donor: Darl Fritz/Fritz Fire Equipment
Made by: Linda Fritz
 
Veteran: Kenny Gardner
Donor: Pulaski Co. Retired Teachers Association
Made by: Phyllis Kramer & Marsha Dulhanty
 
Veteran: Dolores Grizzell
Donor: Northern Indiana Power from the Past
Made by: Jan Smith & Mary Shurn
 
Veteran: Mick Hoffman
Donor: Eddie Ploss
Made by: Eddie Ploss
 
Veteran: Don Kegarise
Donor: Nite-liters Home Ec Club
Made by: Linda Doll & Brenda Finnegan
 
Veteran: Bob Klitzman
Donor: Good Oil, Barb & Tom White, Beauty Break, 
Keller Insurance & Consulting
Made by: Gayle Conner
 
Veteran: Ken Knarr
Donor: Jennifer & Tim Zimmer Family
Made by: Gayle Conner
 
Veteran: Everett Knebel
Donor: Mickey White
Made by: Mickey White
 
Veteran: Bernie Knouff
Donor: Mildred Schmicker
Made by: Lenora Hoover
 
Veteran: Bill Kocher
Donor: Standard Industrial Supply
Made by: Ann Fagner
 
Veteran: Bill Ledford
Donor: Tippecanoe Church Ladies Guild
Made by: Tippecanoe Church Ladies Guild
 
Veteran: Bill Lewis
Donor: Lightstream
Made by: Jan Moore & Susan Schonegg
 
Veteran: Doug Lewis 
Donor: Hoover Storage, Blue Hoover Music,
Hoover Construction
Made by: Lenora Hoover
 
Veteran: Ed Loehmer
Donor: Moyer Grain
Made by: Sharon Litke
 
Veteran: Samuel Marks
Donor: Frain Mortuary
Made by: Ann Holbrook & Jennifer Holbrook
 
Veteran: Ken McFarland
Donor: Eddie Ploss
Made by: Eddie Ploss
 
Veteran: Charlie McKinley
Donor: Sharon Litke
Made by: Sharon Litke
Veteran: Ron Mendenhall
Donor: Chuck & Barb Knarr
Made by: Jan Smith & Mary Shurn
 
Veteran: Larry Miller
Donor: Moss Creek Golf Course
Made by: Gayle Conner
 
Veteran: Ed Minnick
Donor: Denise Neff, Ray & Kathy Franko, 
Happy Homemakers Home Ec Club, UAW Local 1448
Made by: Deb Berkshire & Mardell Retschlag
 
Veteran: Al Mueller
Donor: Francesville American Legion Post #228, Howard Kain
Made by: Bev Burkett
 
Veteran: Jim Murray
Donor: Moyer Grain
Made by: Peggy Galbreath
 
Veteran: Don Norrick
Donor: Bethel Bible Church
Made by: Bethel Bible Church Quilters
 
Veteran: Jim O’Donnell
Donor: Sharon Litke
Made by: Sharon Litke
 
Veteran: John O’Donnell, Jr.
Donor: Vic & Judy Heather Family
Made by: Louise Gudas
 
Veteran: John O’Donnell, Sr., Deceased
Donor: Jerome & Rea Keller
Made by: Sharon Stalbaum
 
Veteran: Floyd Podell
Donor: Bob & Lynne Klitzman
Made by: Margaret Steinacker & Cloretta Rausch
 
Veteran: Gene Ralph
Donor: Jeff Richwine Family
Made by: Linda Doll
 
Veteran: Don Reid
Donor: Betty’s Quilting
Made by: Betty Podschun & Marietta Snow
 
Veteran:  Dennis Ringen
Donor: All American Realty
Made by: Gayle Conner
 
Veteran: Rudy Rose
Donor: Patchwork Pals ‘76 Home Ec Club
Made by: Gayle Conner
 
Veteran: Doug Schultz
Donor: Mike & Cindy Schultz
Made by: Cindy Schultz
 
Veteran: Lane Shedrow
Donor: Tim & Sue Alexander
Made by: Ann Fagner
 
Veteran: Bob Smith
Donor: Mike & Cindy Schultz
Made by: Cindy Schultz
 
Veteran: Harold Smith
Donor: Braun Ability
Made by: Ann Fagner
 
Veteran: Stephen Stipp
Donor: Anonymous
Made by: Deb Berkshire & Mardell Retschlag
 
Veteran: Danny Taylor
Donor: Jenise Barnhouse, Betty Kruger,
Marita Gisel, CPA
Made by: Betty Kruger
 
Veteran: Don Terry
Donor: Marlene Fox. Dorinda Calabrese,
Teri Terry, Jimmy Terry, Dwayne Terry
Made by: Lenora Hoover
 
Veteran: Ed Von Tobel
Donor: American Legion Post #71
Made by: Ann Fagner
 
Veteran: Claiborn Wamsley
Donor: First National Bank of Monterey
Made by: Mary Ortman
 
Veteran: Richard Werner
Donor: Sharon Litke
Made by: Sharon Litke
 
Veteran: Mike Zahora
Donor: Bethel Bible Church
Made by: Bethel Bible Church Quilters
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local News Briefs

Stop signs to be added to two county intersections

The Pulaski County Highway Department will add stop signs Monday (April 28) to two county road intersections – one in southeast Rich Grove Township, and the second in northwest Monroe Township.

The new stop signs were approved April 14 in an ordinance adopted by the county commissioners.

Pulaski County Economic Development Summit April 29

The annual Pulaski County Economic Development Summit is set for 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 29, at the Knights of Columbus hall, Winamac. The event is hosted by the Pulaski County Community Development Commission.

The keynote speaker will be Stephanie Wells, president of the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute. The program will also feature the annual “State of the County Economy” address by CDC executive director Nathan Origer.

PMH seeks community input identifying health needs of local communities

Survey deadline May 17

WINAMAC - Pulaski Memorial Hospital has announced the launch of its 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment, a comprehensive initiative aimed at identifying and addressing the most pressing health needs of our local communities.

“Community feedback is essential” said Hospital CEO Steve Jarosinski. ”PMH will be gathering input from residents, local organizations, community leaders, and even other area healthcare professionals to better understand the health challenges and opportunities across the region.”

PCPL lists programs, activities for April

The Pulaski County Public Library has listed its programs and activities for April. They include a celebration of National Library Week, a kids’ caring for the environment program, a Ladybug Welcome Sign craft, and an Earth Day craft.

For more information on any program, call the library at 574-946-3432 or visit the library’s website at www.pulaskicounty.lib.in.us.

PCT invites photographers to capture spirit of county in photo contest

Participate, share perspective on county

Pulaski County Tribe (PCT) has announced the launch of the "Embrace the Pace Pulaski County" photography contest, inviting photographers of all ages and skill levels to showcase life in Pulaski County through the lens of their cameras.

“With cash prizes and the opportunity to have your work displayed county-wide, this contest is an exciting way to celebrate the beauty and community of Pulaski County,” said Brandi Larkin, PCT president.

 

Indiana News

Indiana State Parks offer free admission May 4 for ‘Welcome Weekend’

INDIANAPOLIS - Celebrate the start of the outdoor recreation season with free admission to all Indiana State Parks properties Sunday, May 4, the second day of “Welcome Weekend” and the opening day of Visit Indiana Week.

Find an Indiana State Parks property and what’s new there at on.IN.gov/stateparks. If you’ve never visited, on.IN.gov/dnr-welcome offers helpful tips. 

Braun signs package of executive orders to ‘Make Indiana Healthy Again’

INDIANAPOLIS (April 15) – Gov. Mike Braun Tuesday signed a landmark package of executive orders with initiatives to improve Indiana’s health and well-being.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz were in attendance to support Indiana’s initiative. Indiana now joins a number of states that have embraced, through legislation or executive orders, Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement.

2025 Indiana General Assembly: Bill Watch

Members of the Indiana General Assembly are working through proposed legislation on such topics such as education, health care, housing, property tax reform, responsible management of water resources, and much more. Gov. Mike Braun has now begun the process of signing passed legislation into law.

The 2025 legislative session runs January through April 29. This is a “long session” during which legislators will craft a two-year state budget. The status of bills under consideration, in both the House and Senate, may be viewed here: IGA | Bills for 2025 Session.  

 

Indiana Health News

Measles cases climb to 800 nationwide; 8 in Indiana

Also: respiratory illness updates

INDIANAPOLIS (April 21) — The Indiana Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of measles and working with local health officials to help stop the spread of infection. The current reported cases are connected to each other but at this time there are no known links to outbreaks in other states.

Eight cases have been reported in the Indiana, all in Allen County.

 

Post News

Pulaski Superior Court appears saved

INDIANAPOLIS (April 24) – Pulaski Superior Court and seven other rural courts have been spared from closure, following revisions made to HB1144 approved by both the state house and senate Thursday evening in the Indiana General Assembly.

The legislation is now pending the approval of Gov. Mike Braun.

Community Foundation awards $15,000 in grants

The Community Foundation of Pulaski County (CFoPC) has announced $15,000 has been awarded in grants to local nonprofits and community organizations.

The following projects and organizations have received funding:

  • $5,000 to Pulaski County Historical Society – “We’re Moving!”
  • $10,000 to Pulaski Memorial Hospital – for a Community Health Worker

Chamber presents Don, Lynn Darda with 2025 Halleck Award

The Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce presented the 2025 Halleck Community Service Award to Don and Lynn Darda of Winamac at its annual award banquet Thursday evening (April 24), at the Winamac VFW.

The Dardas are both retired teachers in the Winamac schools and have been enthusiastic volunteers in a variety of projects throughout the years. 

Alliance Junior Board visits BraunAbility

The Alliance Bank Junior Board of Directors had the opportunity to visit BraunAbility in Winamac in April.

During their visit, the student directors were given a presentation about the company and had the chance to ask questions. They also had a tour of the facility, which allowed them to see the manufacturing process of vehicles equipped to assist individuals with disabilities.

Jury finds Monterey man guilty of attempted murder 

WINAMAC – A Pulaski County Circuit Court jury has found a Monterey man guilty of attempted murder in connection with a July 3, 2023 shooting in downtown Monterey.

Kenneth D. Ketcahm, 41, was also convicted on additional charges of criminal recklessness and pointing a firearm. The verdict was returned Monday (April 14).

Fatal crash on U.S. 421 under Investigation

MEDARYVILLE (April 15) – The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a crash which claimed the life of a Porter County man Tuesday on U.S 421 near the intersection of CR 800N in Cass Township.

The crash involved a dump truck and minivan. Release of the identity of the deceased minivan driver is pending the notification of family.