Quilts of Valor

Story & Photos by
Alexis Barker
 
“My story started the day after my father died seven years ago,” said Robbie Lliteras during her speech at the local Veterans Day program. 
Since her father’s death, Lliteras and her mother, Bev, have opened their own quilt shop and presented their first Quilts of Valor to local veterans Doug and Deb Jorrey, pictured above at the Veterans Day Program at Newcastle High School Nov. 12.
The mother-daughter partnership experienced some tough times after losing their beloved husband and father, John Lliteras, but his death led to a discovery that was the beginning of a dream. 
During a trip to the cemetery to visit her grandfather’s grave, Lliteras said, she learned of his service during World War II and that he had died only one month before she was born. 
“I would never meet him. I would never get to thank him for his service. This saddens me, but one day I thought to myself that I might be able to thank another vet in his honor,” Lliteras said in her speech. “You see, we don’t get to pick the day we are born or the day when we die. What we do get to pick is how we live our lives in between those two dates. I try to take the good with the bad or try to find blessings that are offered to me. Life is not fair, get used to that but I try to be the good in someone else’s day.” 
The second step in their journey of discovery was the opening of the Strawberry Patch Quilt Shop. Lliteras said that she learned all she could about successfully owning a quilt shop. Strawberry Patch is now a destination businesses that attracts quilters from all over to Newcastle. 
Robbie and Bev, as part of their adventure as business owners, attended several quilting events. They recalled the beautiful red, white and blue masterpieces that instantly caught their eyes at one of those events. Because red, white and blue are their favorite colors, Lliteras said, it was easy to be drawn to the beautiful, patriotic quilts. 
Lliteras asked one of the nearby quilters at the event about the purpose of the quilts and learned that they were created to honor and thank veterans. 
“They are called Quilts of Valor. This is a group of quilters that honor our military with a quilt made with love,” Lliteras said. “To comfort them in their time of need and to let them know that they are always loved and cherished. It’s a way to give thanks and gratitude for their sacrifice.” 
Lliteras recalled her grandfather’s grave.
“Then it clicks,” she said. “That is how I could honor his memory using my talent. It was calling to me like a river adventure. I am so proud to be in the land of the free because of the brave. I may not be able to fight in a war, but I can sew a beautiful quilt.” 
According to Lliteras, it was about that time that “some kind of miracle” walked through the Strawberry Patch doors. A group of kids participating in the summer recreation program had decided to purchase a sewing machine and the Lliteras ladies chose to embrace the children’s desire to learn to sew by having them help create the Quilts of Valor. 
“These amazing kids worked really hard to learn a new skill that will be with them for the rest of their lives,” Lliteras said. 
Lliteras said later that the two Quilts of Valor were gifted to Deb and Doug Jorrey because this year is the 100th anniversary of woman’s suffrage. Lliteras said they wanted to honor a female who had served. She and her mother felt it would be appropriate to recognize both Doug’s and Deb’s service to the country by creating two different quilts. 
“We own a quilt shop, and this is something we could give back to the community,”
Lliteras said. 
Approximately 90 hours went into the creation of each quilt, according to Lliteras. 
“All of this came about because of the death of a father, a journey to see a gravestone with the caption ‘WWII’ engraved on it, to inspire a small town to build and support a small-business idea. Then that business teaches a community to sew and then that community honors our country’s finest heroes, our veterans right here in Newcastle,” Lliteras said. “I call that paying it forward. … It’s our talents that should inspire us to make the world better than we found it.”
But Lliteras said the beautiful quilts could not have been done without the group of young people who helped her to create them.