Group Leader Amy Schartz Mellor of Golden Plains Quilts of Valor, along with members of the group, awarded eight Quilts of Valor to area veterans on July 31, 2020. Quilts were presented at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend.
Roy Penka
United States Vietnam veteran Roy Penka was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on July 31, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Roy served from 1967 to 1971. Roy completed training in naval supply at San Diego, California. He served aboard the USS San Marcos, a naval supply facility at Cam Ranh Bay Vietnam. The quilt top was made by Phyllis Manhart, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Boe Levingston, Phyllis Manhart, Roy Penka, Amy Schartz Mellor, Ralph Sunley.
Sonny Martin
United States Army veteran William “Sonny” Martin was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on July 31, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Sonny served from 1973 to 1976. He was trained at Fort Riley as a wheel mechanic. Sonny also worked in the motor pool and was a driver for a general. He served two tours in Germany. The quilt top was made by Wendy Brackeen, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: mDavid Krallman, Wendy Brackeen, Sonny Martin, Amy Schartz Mellor, Bob Jarmer.
Dennis Applebee
United States Army veteran Dennis Applebee was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on July 31, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Dennis served from 1974 to 1977. He completed basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Dennis was then stationed at Fort Riley where he was a motor pool mechanic. He served two tours in Germany. The quilt top was made by Wendy Brackeen, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Dennis Hill, Wendy Brackeen, Dennis Applebee, Amy Schartz Mellor, Robert Zahn.
Craig Scheuerman
United States Marine Corps veteran Craig Scheuerman was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on July 31, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Craig served in 1989 and 1990. He was trained at Camp Pendleton, California and served as a 0331 machine gunner assigned to the 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California. The quilt top was made by Linda Bittel, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Roy Titsworth, Linda Bittel, Craig Scheuerman, Amy Schartz Mellor, Rick Munsch.
Eric Lewallen
United States Army Gulf War veteran Eric Lewallen was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on July 31, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Eric served from 1989 to 1992, completing basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was also stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia and served in the infantry in Iraq. The quilt top was made by Alice Stoskopf, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: David Krallman, Eric Lewallen, Amy Schartz Mellor, Ralph Sunley.
David Melcher
United States Air Force and Army veteran David Melcher was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on July 31, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. He served from 1992 to 2002. David was trained as an aircraft mechanic at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. He served as a ground radio technician at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi and as an ammunition specialist at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. David was also stationed at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey; McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita, Kansas; and Fort Hood, Texas. The quilt top was made by Millie Hill, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Bob Jarmer, Millie Hill, David Melcher, Amy Schartz Mellor, Robert Zahn.
Jonathan Strandberg
United States Army veteran Jonathan Strandberg was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on July 31, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Jonathan served from 2003 and is still serving. He completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, being trained as an 88M truck driver. He was also trained as a 12B combat engineer at Devil’s Lake, North Dakota. Jonathan served two tours in Iraq and is currently serving with the Kansas National Guard. The quilt top was made by the Happy Stitchers Quilting Group; quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Dennis Hill, Lois Wagner, Judy Burnette, Jonathan Strandberg, Amy Schartz Mellor, Roy Titsworth.
Jason Blundell
United States Army veteran Jason Blundell was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on July 31, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Jason served from 2009 to 2019, being trained in many areas to include Basic Infantry School, Snipe School, Recon and SERE School, Armorer School, Explosives School, Weapons Specialization Training and Combat Life Saver. He served in East Africa, Kuwait, Iraq, Germany and Romanian Bulgarian Special Forces. The quilt top was made by Linda Shull, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Rich Munsch, Jason Blundell, Amy Schartz Mellor, Robert Zahn.
