By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Golden Plains Quilts of Valor, September 2019
Harold Lueker
Harold Lueker

Golden Plains Group Leader Amy Schartz Mellor and members of the group awarded 10 Quilts of Valor to local veterans on Friday, September 27, at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. “Thank you to all veterans for their service and sacrifice for our country,” Mellor said.


Harold Lueker

United States Army veteran Harold Lueker was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on September 27, 2019 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Harold served from 1954 to 1956, serving 20 months in Japan, where he ran the motor pool, drove officers as needed, and provided maintenance. The quilt top was made by Margaret Evers, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Boe Levingston, Margaret Evers, Harold Lueker, Amy Schartz Mellor, Ralph Sunley.


George Strobel

United States Army veteran George Strobel was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on September 27, 2019 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. George served from 1960 to 1961, as a finance clerk at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. The quilt top was made by Alice Stoskopf, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Chris Krueger, Alice Stoskopf, George Strobel, Amy Schartz Mellor, Rick Munsch.


Kenneth Hasenfratz

United States Army veteran Kenneth Hasenfratz was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on September 27, 2019, at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Kenneth served from 1965 to 1967, stationed in Turkey to train the Turkish soldiers. The quilt top was made by Mary Lou Weiser, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Kathy Piper, Mary Lou Weiser, Kenneth Hasenfratz, Amy Schartz Mellor, Jeannie Munsch.


Melvin Klein

United States Army veteran Melvin Klein was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on September 27, 2019 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 is Great Bend. Melvin served from 1969 to 1972. After completing basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Melvin boarded a plane and was told he was being sent to Vietnam. During the flight, the soldiers were told their flight was changed to Germany. The quilt top was made by Eileen Huslig, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Bob Jarmer, Melvin Klein, Amy Schartz Mellor, Roy Titsworth.


Gary Tournear

United States Army veteran George Strobel was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on September 27, 2019 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. George served from 1960 to 1961, as a finance clerk at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. The quilt top was made by Alice Stoskopf, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Chris Krueger, Alice Stoskopf, George Strobel, Amy Schartz Mellor, Rick Munsch.


Don Conway

United States Navy veteran Don Conway was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on September 27, 2019, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Don served from 1969 to 1971, completing boot camp at San Diego, Calif. and additional training in Memphis, Tenn. Don was then stationed in Jacksonville, Fla. and Yuma, Ariz., where he was a mechanic on A7 jets and also part of a training squadron. The quilt top was made by LaWanna Krestine, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Chris Krueger, Don Conway, Amy Schartz Mellor, Brenda Krueger.


Lonnie Creacy

United States Navy veteran Lonnie Creacy was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on September 27, 2019 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Lonnie served from 1985 to 1990. He was trained as a ship serviceman, attending “A” and “C” schools. Lonnie served aboard the USS Blue Ridge, the command ship of the Seventh Fleet, out of Yokosuka, Japan. He then served aboard the USS New Jersey, the most decorated battleship in the United States Navy, stationed out of Long Beach, Calif. Lonnie’s ports of call included Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, Australia, Dubai in the UAE and Japan, among others. The quilt top was made by Lonnie’s mother-in-law, Linda Shull, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Ralph Sunley, Linda Shull, Lonnie Creacy, Boe Levingston, Amy Schartz Mellor.


Dennis Barnett

United States Air Force veteran Dennis Barnett was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on September 27, 2019 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Dennis served from 2000 to 2004, stationed at Edwards Air Force Base in California, where he worked on utility systems – civil engineering. The quilt top was made by Lois Wagner, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Norma Titsworth, Dennis Barnett, Amy Schartz Mellor, Roy Titsworth.


Lance Haselhorst

United States Marine Corps veteran Lance Haselhorst was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on September 27, 2019 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Lance served from 2000 to 2004. After completing boot camp in San Diego, CA, he was sent to an infantry unit, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment in Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he served as chief dispatcher and Platoon Sergeant. Lance was then sent to the Mountain Warfare Center in Bridgeport, Calif. and Dessert Warfare training in Twenty Nine Palms, Calif. One month after 9-11, he was deployed to Afghanistan aboard the USS Bataan. While in Afghanistan, Lance conducted numerous mechanized and foot patrols in and around the Kandahar region. He achieved non-commissioned officers rank of Corporal through meritorious selection and achieved the rank of Sergeant is just 3 1/2 years. The quilt top was made by LaWanna Krestine, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Kathy Piper, Lance Haselhorst, Amy Schartz Mellor, Rick Munsch.


Kevin Brabb

United States Army and Air Force veteran Kevin Brabb was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on September 27, 2019 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. Kevin served from 2004 to 2016, trained to work on radar and communications equipment. He was deployed to Iraq from 2007 to 2008 and again from 2015 to 2016. The quilt top was made by Judy Burnette, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Roy Titsworth, Judy Burnette, Kevin Brabb, Chris Krueger, Amy Schartz Mellor.