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Quilts of Valor awarded Aug. 15, 2026
Thomas Uecker
United States Navy veteran, Thomas Uecker, was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on Aug. 15, 2026, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Uecker served from 1969 to 1992. The quilt top was made by Lenora Keil, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Poncho Hitschmann, Sylvia Nuss (who nominated Uecker for his QOV), Tom Uecker, Bob Jarman and Amy Schartz Mellor.

The Golden Plains Quilts of Valor group awarded three quilts to local veterans on Saturday, Aug. 15, at the American Legion Post in Great Bend.

Thomas Uecker

United States Navy veteran, Thomas Uecker, was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on Aug. 15, 2026, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Uecker served from 1969 to 1992. The quilt top was made by Lenora Keil, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor.

Howard Meier
United States Navy veteran, Howard Meier, was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on Aug. 15, 2026, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Meier served from 1966 to 1972. The quilt top was made by Linda Shull, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: Linda Shull, Poncho Hitschmann , Howard Meier,Bob Jarmer and Amy Schartz Mellor.

Howard Meier

United States Navy veteran, Howard Meier, was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on Aug. 15, 2026, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Meier served from 1966 to 1972. The quilt top was made by Linda Shull, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor.

Jim Bethel
United States Air Force Veteran, Jim Bethel, was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on Aug. 15, 2026, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Bethel served from 1956 to 1962. The quilt top was made by Wendy Brackeen, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. Pictured, from left: David Krallman, Wendy Brackeen, Jim Bethel, Amy Schartz Mellor and Boe Levingston.

Jim Bethel

United States Air Force Veteran, Jim Bethel, was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on Aug. 15, 2026, at the American Legion Post 180 in Great Bend. Bethel served from 1956 to 1962. The quilt top was made by Wendy Brackeen, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor.