The Golden Plains Quilts of Valor awarded six quilts to local veterans on Friday, June 26, at the Great Bend American Legion Argonne Post 180 at 1011 Kansas Ave.
The group typically makes presentations on the last Friday of each month at the post, but hasn’t been able to be there for the last four months because of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Amy Schartz Mellor, who does all of the quilt backs. Their last presentation was Feb. 28.
“We’re very excited to be able to honor our veterans again!” Mellor said.
William Seltman
United States Army veteran William Seltmann was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on June 26, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. William served from 1964 to 1966. He completed basic training in San Antonio, Texas, being trained as a medic. William served at Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, in the malaria ward and the laboratory. The quilt top was made by Phyllis Manhart, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Ralph Sunley, Phyllis Manhart, William Seltmann, Amy Schartz Mellor, Boe Levingston.
Kristian Asher
United States Army veteran Kristian Asher was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on June 26, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Legion Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Kristian served from 1982 to 1984. She completed basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. She was an expert shooter and was trained as a health inspector at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. She served at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska. The quilt top was made by Linda Bittel, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Poncho Hitschmann, Linda Bittel, Kristian Asher, Amy Schartz Mellor, Bob Jarmer.
Dennis Palmer
United States Army Vietnam veteran Dennis Palmer was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on June 26, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Dennis served from 1967 to 1969. He completed basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas and additional training as a marksman and in psychological operations with special forces at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He served with the 101st Airborne Division one mile from the DMZ in Vietnam. The quilt top was made by Linda Bittel, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Boe Levingston, Linda Bittel, Dennis Palmer, Amy Schartz Mellor, David Krallman.
Kent Converse
United States Army Vietnam veteran Kent Converse was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on June 26, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Kent served from 1964 to 1969, completing basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he was trained as an armored officer and platoon officer. He then went to primary flight school at Fort Wolters, Texas and finally advanced flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Kent was stationed at Camp Casey, Korea; Fort Riley, Kansas; Bearcat Base, Vietnam and Dong Tam Vietnam. He received Basic Aviator Wings, Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart, and a total of seven air medals. The Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded for taking out a shooter on the Vietnam side. The quilt top was made and quilted by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Robert Zahn, Kent Converse, Amy Schartz Mellor, Katharine Piper.
Toni Lovett
United States Navy veteran Toni Lovett was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on June 26, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Toni was in the delayed entry program, taking the oath in 1997 and reporting to boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, in April 1998. She was scheduled to train as an electronics technician in the nuclear field. Toni served as chief petty officer while in the delayed entry program and as the recruit chief petty officer for her recruit division until being medically discharged for an injury sustained during training. The quilt top was made by LaWanna Krestine, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Poncho Hitschmann, Toni Lovett, Amy Schartz Mellor, Bob Jarmer.
Melissa Fields
United States Marine Corps Iraqi Freedom veteran Melissa Fields was awarded a Quilt of Valor from Golden Plains Quilts of Valor on June 26, 2020 at the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, Kansas. Melissa served from 2003 to 2010. Her recruit training was at Parris Island, South Carolina, combat training at Camp Geiger, North Carolina, and military police school at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Melissa served at Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan; two tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom; and at MCAS Miramar at Camp Pendleton, Calif. She served as security during the first Iraqi parliamentary elections in 2005 and was at the second largest election site in Iraq. Melissa searched over 300 women who had voting rights for the first time. The quilt top was made by Edie McQuade, quilting by Amy Schartz Mellor. From left: Katharine Piper, Amy Schartz Mellor, Melissa Fields, Edie McQuade, David Krallman.
