'Quilt Of Valor' Kicks Off Santa Cruz County Fair

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — The Santa Cruz County Fair opened its gates at noon Wednesday, and the Sept. 11 kickoff recalled that fateful day in 2001 when the Fair was also set to open. So this year it was only fitting that Santa Cruz County’s first ever "Quilt of Valor" be presented to a retired veteran as part of the opening ceremonies.

Fair Youth Department head Robin Turnquist was inspired last fall. As a member of the Aptos Grange #800, she attended the national Grange Convention and was in the audience when the Quilts of Valor organization spoke to those gathered.

“It was so moving for me that I brought their story back to my local Grange,” Turnquist said. Several members of the group jumped on board with the Aptos Grange agreeing to serve as sponsor. An invitation to county 4-H clubs went out as well, and to anyone in the community interested in joining the group for fellowship, sewing and citizenship.

During Wednesday's presentation ceremony, a letter was read and those in attendance got to hear about the recipient’s service to his country. The quilt was then opened, facing the veteran, so he see if first before being shown to the crowd. It was then given to the veteran by wrapping it around him.

The local Quilts of Valor group hopes to sew and wrap county veterans for many years to come. Turnquist encourages those interested in learning more to go to the Quilts of Valor website qovf.org.

“But be careful, you might want to come sew quilts with us,” she laughed.

The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with Quilts of Valor.

The 2019 Fair runs Sept. 11-15 at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave., off Highway 152, near Watsonville. More information about the event, including the complete schedule of events, can be found at santacruzcountyfair.com.