Story & Photos by Bettina Carey

Sometimes the most meaningful gifts cannot be purchased. They are created – one stitch at a time – with gratitude, compassion, and love.

On Saturday, June 27, family, friends, neighbors, and community leaders gathered at Judson Park in Des Moines to honor 97-year-old veteran Pat Nardo with a Quilt of Valor, a moving tribute recognizing his military service and sacrifice.

The ceremony was presented by members of the Big Foot Stars Chapter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation (QOVF), a nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to covering service members and veterans “touched by war” with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.

The ceremony was emceed by Marilyn, who thoughtfully explained the symbolism behind every Quilt of Valor and the foundation’s mission of honoring those who have served our country.

Pat’s quilt was nominated by Kathy Scott and lovingly designed and handcrafted by Kathy Hagelind, who dedicated countless hours of her own time, talent, and materials to create this one-of-a-kind gift. Like every member of the Big Foot Stars Chapter, both women are volunteers who donate their skills to ensure deserving veterans receive this meaningful recognition.

A Dream That Became a National Movement

The Quilts of Valor Foundation began with a dream in 2003.

Founder Catherine Roberts’ son, Nat, had been deployed to Iraq when she experienced a vivid dream that would forever change thousands of lives.

She later described seeing a young soldier sitting on the edge of his bed, overwhelmed by despair, with the emotional weight of war surrounding him. In the next moment, she saw him wrapped in a handmade quilt.

Everything changed.

Hope replaced despair.

Comfort replaced fear.

The message of the dream was simple:

“Quilts = Healing.”

That dream inspired Catherine to begin making quilts for wounded service members.

The very first Quilt of Valor was presented at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and what started as one woman’s dream has grown into a nationwide movement.

Today, nearly 500,000 Quilts of Valor have been awarded across the United States.

The foundation now includes approximately 11,000 volunteer members in nearly 600 chapters nationwide.

Washington State is home to 20 chapters with nearly 450 volunteers, and together they are on track to present another 1,000 quilts this year alone.

The local Big Foot Stars Chapter, which honored Pat, consists of approximately 20 dedicated volunteers who freely donate their time, labor, creativity, and materials to recognize veterans throughout the region.

As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Quilts of Valor Foundation relies entirely on volunteers and charitable donations to continue its mission.

Every Layer Tells a Story

A Quilt of Valor is much more than a beautiful handmade quilt.

Each one contains three symbolic layers that represent the appreciation of a grateful nation.

The quilt top is made from many different fabrics, colors, and patterns, symbolizing the diversity of the communities and citizens whose freedoms America’s veterans have protected.

The batting, the soft inner layer, represents warmth, comfort, healing, peace, and the hope that each veteran feels wrapped in the gratitude of the nation they served.

The backing symbolizes the strength of the veteran, the unwavering support of family and friends, and the nation that stands behind them.

When the completed quilt is gently draped across a veteran’s shoulders during the presentation, it becomes far more than fabric and thread.

It becomes an embrace.

A visible expression of appreciation.

A reminder that their service has not been forgotten.

Honoring a Life of Service

For those who know Pat Nardo, Saturday’s ceremony was about far more than his military service.

It celebrated nearly a century of resilience, humility, kindness, and commitment to community.

Joined by his devoted wife, Marianne Nardo, family members, neighbors, and friends, Pat accepted the Quilt of Valor with the quiet dignity that has defined his life.

The applause that filled the room reflected not only gratitude for his service in uniform but appreciation for the example he continues to set every day.

At 97-years-old, Pat remains a treasured member of the Des Moines community and a proud representative of America’s Greatest Generation.

His Quilt of Valor now serves as a lasting reminder that while service may end, gratitude never should.

Those interested in supporting the Quilts of Valor Foundation can volunteer, nominate a veteran, or make a tax-deductible donation to help continue this extraordinary mission of healing one quilt—and one veteran—at a time.