Quilt of Valor Presented on Veterans Day

On Veterans Day, Maritime Enforcement Petty Officer Second Class Douglas Sulham was presented with a red, white and blue quilt.

The "quilt of valor" to Wesborough's Veterans Day grand marshal, an Iraq War veteran, was a token of "our thanks and appreciation for your service to our country," said Beverly Linnane, representing Schoolhouse Quilters, during the town's observance in front of the Forbes Municipal Building, the site of the World War I, World War II, Korean War and Gulf War memorials.

The Schoolhouse Quilters, a group of women from Worcester County and Connecticut, are part of a national effort to make these quilts of valor, "red, white and blue quilts that we give to veterans all over the country," Linnane said.

Veterans Services Officer Kenneth Ferrera said Linnane has indicated she'd like to make the quilt presentation an annual event,

The observance in front of the memorials at Forbes was the third of four on Monday.

Community members also saluted veterans at Pine Grove Cemetery and the Vietnam Memorial, and concluded with a service at the rotary.

Each time, members of the VFW Post 9013 Honor Guard fired three volleys, and Westborough High School buglers played "Taps."
 
Ferrera, the master of ceremonies, opened the ceremony at Forbes by saying that "I was reminded just a few minutes ago that Oct. 23 was the 30th anniversary of the Beirut bombing. So, I'd like to have a moment of silence for those who gave their lives there."

Selectmen Chairman Ian Johnson thanked "the veterans nationwide, but most importantly, those veterans that have served the town of Westborough, both past and present."

"Thank you to the veterans that are here. Thank you to the veterans that have come before you," Johnson said.

Veterans Agent/Director of Veterans Services George Perry III noted that 
Westborough now is in a veterans services district with Northborough, Grafton and Shrewsbury.

"Our jobs are very busy now. But, we're here to help the veteran," Perry said.

"Any veteran in need, let us know. We're here for you guys. That's our job. And we'll treat you all with the greatest respect."