Woodstock-area resident and former U.S. Marine Ken Sercerchi presented with Quilt of Valor
With a small gathering of friends, family, Legion, and ANAVETs members on hand Thursday evening, Dec. 7, at the Hartland Royal Canadian Legion, former U.S. Marine and Woodstock-area resident Ken Sercerchi proudly accepted his Quilt of Valor.
Christine Corey, representing the Quilt of Valor Foundation (QOVF) USA, travelled from Houlton, Maine, to present Sercerchi with the special quilt she made.
Corey said she represented QOVF members from across the U.S. She explained the movement began in 2003 when a quilter named Catherine Roberts, while her son served in Iraq, began making the quilts.
“Since that time, more than 350,000 Quilts of Valor have been awarded,” she said. “Our mission is to honour service members and veterans who have been touched by war with comforting and healing Quests of Valor.”
While Corey has presented several quilts, her presentation to Sercerchi was the first she presented outside the U.S.
While born in Canada, Sercerchi volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Vietnam in 1968 and 69.
He returned to live in Canada after his discharge.
“This quilt is an expression of gratitude meant to thank you and comfort you,” Corey told Sercerchi. “We honour you for leaving all you hold dear to serve, whether in time of crisis or time of peace. This Quilt of Valor unequivocally says thank you for service, sacrifice and valor serving our nation.”
Along with the quilt, Corey presented Sercerchi with a certificate addressed to USMC 3rd Marine Division, 1968-1969 and signed by QOVF Executive Director Lori Thompson and Corey as Aroostook County, Maine, QOVF co-ordinator.
It stated, “The Quilts of Valor Foundation wishes to recognize you for your service to our nation. We consider it our privilege to do so. Though we may never know the extent of your sacrifice to protect and defend the United States of America, we award you this Quilt of Valor as an expression of gratitude from a grateful nation.”
