Several Organizations Honor Veterans Present and Past

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX -- There are so many Veteran observances for that special day in November that they all can’t be reported in the actual month, but here at Conroe Today we strive to get as much Veteran news to our readers as possible. Montgomery County is one of the most Veteran friendly counties in The Country, and it shows. Many organizations here naturally want to honor those who have served Our Country, whether they be in the present or the past. Whether it is by making quilts, or feeding Veterans, or by bringing honor to their graves, these groups are an essential part to our community, and are in constant need of help and replenishment with younger members to keep the traditions going.

The Golden Needles Quilt Guild held their annual quilt ceremony to honor Veterans with a donated quilt, handmade by guild members over the course of the past year in commemoration of Veterans Day. The event was held this past Veterans week at the Willis Community Center, and honored Veterans at their monthly November meeting, with a quilt of their choice rewarding honorably discharged soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen with a quilt in thanks for their service to our nation. The tradition started in 2003 by Catherine Roberts, whose son was deployed in Iraq, and had a dream seeing a young soldier on his bed hunched over in despair. That when she came up in the need to make quilts for soldiers, then Veterans with the message of Quilts = Healing. Each year the number of Veterans receiving quilts increases, and it is a triumph of the Golden Needles guild to be able to complete so many quilts throughout the year.

“We have already begun quilts towards next year’s Veterans celebration,” said Golden Needles Quilt Guild member, Margie Hall, “It’s a constant beehive activity with our guild.”

The Conroe Service League came out to support the Lone Star Honor Flight Veterans Group (105) prior to Veterans Day in November. The ladies are very gracious in their service to the community, and bring breakfast items aplenty for the Veterans to enjoy. The CSL serves 105 several times per year with their tasty items made in their own kitchens. From Eggs and Bacon, to tasty quiches, potatoes, fruits, etc. And don’t forget the awesome sweets, the ladies are always willing to go out of their way to thank the 105 Vets for their Service to Our Country. This time, several of the ladies brought their homeschool kids to the outing, who were busily handing out sweets to the Veterans, no doubt raising blood sugars to their breaking point, but the Veterans couldn’t say ‘no’ to the kids.

“The ladies of the Conroe Service League are amazing cooks and have hearts of gold!” Said 105 Organizer Darrell May. “The Lone Star Honor Flight Veterans Group is so grateful for their support and we’re blessed to know them!”

Members of Copeland Chapel Cemetery Association located off McCaleb Road, on Copelan Chapel Road, in Conroe, honor the Veterans buried in their hallowed ground with flags every year. This Veterans Day, the Veterans Committee, headed by Harvey Yaw, went above and beyond the call of duty, and instead of the small desk size American flags, the cemetery crew installed full size 3’x5’ flags, with permanent holders next to the grave. The 128 year old Historic Copeland Cemetery contains nearly one-thousand graves on-site, with new burials happening every year. Yaw is well versed in the cleaning and preserving of the Veterans Graves, and organizes cleaning efforts for the entire cemetery.

“I am honored to maintain the Veteran graves here at the cemetery,” said Yaw. “As a Vietnam Veteran myself, I believe it very important to honor their memories for the service to Our Nation.”

The Conroe Service League’s Bargain Box Resale Shop is located at: 123 N. Thompson St. in Conroe.

Store hours: Wednesday- Friday, 10am-2pm. And they are now open on the 2nd & 4th Saturdays of the month.

Their website is: conroeserviceleague.org

The website to the Golden Needles Quilt Guild is: golden-needles-quilt-guild.square.site

Quilt of Valor Foundation: qovf.org