BLANCHESTER — For the past few years the Clinton County Quilt Guild has selflessly designed, produced and donated handmade quilts to various Clinton County “heroes” — primarily firefighters and EMT’s.

Now, nine quilts have been donated to veterans in the Blanchester area.

The Quilt Guild, at the 2015 Corn Festival, donated 13 quilts to Wilmington Veterans Post 49 Chaplain Denny Hasz for distribution to Clinton County veterans. He formed a committee of VFW and American Legion members and began selecting veterans and distributing the quilts. The members of the Quilt Guild were informed of each recipient and responded by creating more quilts.

The 2016 Corn Festival Quilt Show concluded with another Hero Quilt presentation to the new Veterans Quilt Committee Chairman, VFW 6710 Past Commander Richard Hartley, and he got his group of volunteers rolling right away.

When Linda Mider, President of Blanchester’s Marion Auxiliary Unit 179 became aware of the program, she contacted Quilt Committee Chairman Hartley and requested quilts for the veterans in the area her Unit and the Legion Post served. The priority was the veterans at the Colonial and Laurels Nursing Homes.

Mr. Hartley asked her to arrange a date and time with the caregivers and his committee would be there with the quilts and assist in the distribution.

Mider came through in a big way, as recently Hartley and American Legion Department of Ohio Assistant Chaplain Paul Butler met with members of the Blanchester American Legion’s Auxiliary Unit and Post at the Colonial beginning an enjoyable afternoon visiting some of Clinton County’s heroes.

Those honored with a quilt were:

• Francis Beatty

• Herbert Dunkman

• Robert Ernst

• Coletta Foor

• Howard Gooden

• Herman Liming

• Carl Matherly

• Gary Young

Bradford Naylor

Coletta Foor is presented with a quilt.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/04/web1_QUILTS-FOOR.jpgColetta Foor is presented with a quilt. Courtesy photos

Francis Beatty is presented with a quilt.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/04/web1_QUILTS-BEATTY.jpgFrancis Beatty is presented with a quilt. Courtesy photos

Blanchester veterans include, from left: Robert Ernst, 97; Herman Liming, 87; Howard Gooden, 92; and Carl Matherly, 100. In the back row are Betsy Hart, Darlene Herbert, Richard Hartley, Paul Butler, Linda Mider, Unit 179 President, Beth West and Mary Etta Richards, Unit 179 Chaplain. (Not pictured is Mike Mider, Past Commander Post 179.)

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/04/web1_QUILTS-CONTINENTAL.jpgBlanchester veterans include, from left: Robert Ernst, 97; Herman Liming, 87; Howard Gooden, 92; and Carl Matherly, 100. In the back row are Betsy Hart, Darlene Herbert, Richard Hartley, Paul Butler, Linda Mider, Unit 179 President, Beth West and Mary Etta Richards, Unit 179 Chaplain. (Not pictured is Mike Mider, Past Commander Post 179.) Courtesy photos