"Your Service, Our Freedom."  That's the message quiltmaker Jane Dougherty sewed into a section of the rainbow-hued Quilt of Valor (QOV) she wrapped around Senior Master Sergeant Charleen Fischer on April 19, at a special ceremony hosted by Northford-North Branford Women's Club honoring two Northford women for their military service with QOV presentations.

"I did the longarming on this quilt, and it also has a really wonderful message that I hope you'll be able to read," Dougherty told Fischer. "The cursive is stitched in so if you're really close; you'll be able to see it. It reads, 'Your Service, Our Freedom' --and that, to me, is really what Quilts of Valor is all about."

Fischer has been actively serving with CT Air National Guard since 2001. She was honored together with Janet Schmitt, a nurse and Air Force Captain serving from 1966 through 1968.

Fischer, who also currently works with veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs, said a colleague of hers had received a Quilt of Valor last year, which made her aware of the program and its meaningful effort to show support and appreciation of all military members.

"It's a complete honor," said Fischer, of receiving her QOV.

Fischer is also a mom of two, Caden Atwood, 10 and James Atwood III, who is 5. Fischer proudly shared the moment of being wrapped in her quilt on April 19 with her youngest son, James, who was at the event that evening.

After receiving her quilt, Schmitt talked with Zip06/The Sound about her decision to enter military service during the Vietnam era, a time of war as well as civil unrest.

"You see things happen and you say, 'You know, I'm think I'm going to go into the service. Let's see what this is all about,'" said Schmitt.

She enlisted in New Haven and was directed to go to Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas.

"I remember going down, and I thought I'd go the scenic route," said Schmitt, who drove from Connecticut to Texas. "I had another nurse [driving] behind me; she was from Massachusetts. Remember, this was the 1960's -- two white women from the north, going through the south."

At a gas station in Mississippi, her friend was refused service.

"We didn't have cell phones in those days," said Schmitt, who suggested the two go up to a shop to get a drink and consider their options. "In comes this little stubby man... and he was the sheriff. 'I want to know what you women are doing here.' Thank God, I had my orders. I said, 'We're heading to Sheppard Air Force Base.' And he looked at me. And I said, 'I have my orders right here...if we don't report, I'm sure they'll be looking for us.' So he said to us, 'Just keep going, and don't stop.'"

They didn't stop until they got to Texarkana TX. Later, she said, "...a doctor from Mississippi said to me, 'You're lucky you made it.' We didn't even think about it," said Schmitt. "And then when you come home, things are even worse."

The Mission of QOV

QOV is an internet-based organization started by the mom of a soldier during his deployment to Iraq in 2003. The mission of QOV is to provide comfort and support to military veterans and thank them for their service, with each unique, hand-made quilt that is bestowed.  To date, over 330,600 QOV have been created and wrapped around military members nationwide, according to the QOV website https://www.qovf.org/

On April 19, Dougherty, a Branford resident who recently stepped down after many years of service as QOV Foundation CT State Coordinator, was assisted in presenting the two quilts by QOV volunteer quilter and U.S. Air Force veteran Chuck Larkins Sr., a North Branford resident.

Doughtery noted Larkins signed on to help QOV several years back after Dougherty gave a local presentation at the Branford VFW. She especially encouraged more men to consider taking up the quilting cause, because, if you think about it, "...a sewing machine is nothing more than a power tool" with thread.

Like Fischer, Schmitt said she was also honored to receive her "gorgeous" quilt, which Dougherty noted carried a Blooming Stars stitch. Done in yellows, blues and browns, it was made a female military veteran and QOV volunteer, Dougherty said, while also noting that "...not all of the quilts are red, white and blue; and not all of the quilts are service-specific."

Support from Northford-North Branford Womens Club

Both Northford women were wrapped in their distinctive quilts during an event hosted by the Northford-North Branford Womens Club in the Stanley T. Williams Community Center. The club, part of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, currently numbers 30 members. It supports QOV with contributions including those generated by its annual "Honor Them with a Flag" fundraiser and display outside of Town Hall.

Co-presidents of the club are Cindy Basil and Michele Nilson.

"This is near and dear to our hearts," said Nilson of the club's support of QOV. "It's really important to give back to the community, and veterans are a big part of what we do."

On Saturday, June 18, the club is hosting a charity golf tournament at Twin Lakes Golf Course in North Branford (11 a.m. with a lunch following at Arturo's Restaurant, Branford). All proceeds will be donated to Read to Grow and other local charities. Registration, $50 per golfer, can be made via Venmo (@NorthfordWomens-Club) or check to Northford Women's Club mailed to Elisa Orio, 4B Catherine Court, Wallingford, CT 06492. Golf tee sponsors are also being sought. For more information, email jingle38@sbcglobal.net

Nilson said the club has been looking forward to hosting its first QOV presentation and was delayed by an extra two years due to the pandemic.

Larkins said the club's support is greatly appreciated and it was especially important to himself and Dougherty that, when an in-person event could finally be held, they present quilts to two female local residents, in recognition of the work of the Northford-North Branford Womens Club.

"Because of your organization's sponsorship of Quilts of Valor, we thought it would be appropriate," said Larkins.