T-R PHOTO BY SARA JORDAN-HEINTZ Pictured are members of the Central Iowa Quilt Sew-ciety putting the finishing touches on quilts, at the Senior Citizens Center last week. The quilts will be presented during the third annual Quilts of Valor ceremony, held Saturday, Sept. 23 at 2 p.m. at the Marshalltown Mall. A total of 18 veterans will each receive a quilt during this free, public ceremony.

The Marshalltown-based Central Iowa Quilt Sew-ciety (CIQS) will host its third annual autumn Quilts of Valor ceremony, Saturday, Sept. 23 at 2 p.m. at the Marshalltown Mall.

This year, a group of 18 men and women will be honored for their military service and each presented with quilts made by members of the CIQS.

“We have a variety of veterans from Marshalltown and surrounding towns this year, ranging from World War II service to Desert Storm,” said Program Director Marvis Drew.

Of particular significance is the fact that the CIQS will present its 100th quilt during this ceremony.

“One of the 18 recipients will receive that quilt, but we are not revealing which one is getting it until the presentation,” Drew said.

The recipients are: Jerry Hamilton, Dale Baker, Dave Samuels, Donald Downs, Ken Hoff, Don Lane, Jimmie Simmons, Curtis Summers, Orlyn Langenbau, Bill Curler, Clay Jensen, Jean Hilsabeck, Lavern Jackson, Laura Canaday, Robert Springer, Larry Warnell and Tim and Maddie Welton, who are husband and wife.

The ceremony will begin with a Presentation of Flags by the Marshalltown Combined Honor Guard, followed by songs performed by the Sweet Adelines, and remarks by CIQS President Gloria DeBower, who along with other Sew-ciety members, will present the veterans with their quilts. Special biographical information will be read aloud about each individual, describing his or her military background and experience.

“Some of these veterans saw combat, while others served stateside. Sometimes people don’t think they’re deserving of a quilt because they don’t think they [were in the line of danger] but they risked their lives signing up and serving,” Drew said.

Group photos will follow the presentation, and refreshments will be served.

The CIQS is also presenting its annual quilt show, with quilts on display throughout the Marshalltown Mall from Sept. 13-Oct. 1.

“We will have around 100 quilts in this show,” Drew said. “The Sew-ciety sponsored a Quilts of Valor class at the Iowa State Fair this year, and some of those quilts made will be part of the display.”

Six quilts made during this class at the state fair will be presented at a later date to veterans living at the Iowa Veterans Home.

The program is free and open to the public.

The CIQS does two public quilt presentations every year: a springtime program at the Iowa Veterans Home, and one held each September at the Marshalltown Mall.

The group estimates the cost of completing a Quilt of Valor to be around $200 each. Contributions may be sent to the CIQS at: P.O. Box 1755, Marshalltown. To learn more about Quilts of Valor visit: www.qovf.org.

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Contact Sara Jordan-Heintz at 641-753-6611 or sjordan@timesrepublican.com