By Alyssa Dye
Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran School of Alliance honored veterans with their fourth annual Veterans Day program and Quilts of Valor ceremony on November 7, 2023. Students displayed artwork and performed a variety of musical selections across grades, including the traditional Armed Forces medley in which veterans stood and were recognized with their branch anthem.
The school collaborated with Panhandle Blocks Quilts of Valor to have each of the 116 students from preschool through ninth grade sew blocks together for each quilt top. Students pieced the quilt tops with Kathy Dye. They were quilted by Suzanne Walker and bound by Alyssa Dye and Beth Daugherty. Dr. James Tallmon’s 7th and 8th grade class read the biographies of the three veterans receiving quilts.
The following veterans were honored with Quilts of Valor this year:
Paul Schleck joined the Air Force in 1987, and earned the rank of Senior Airman E-4 before being honorably discharged in 1991. Schleck served at Offutt Air Force Base during Operation Desert Storm.
Paul R. Millwood II joined the Army just shy of his 18th birthday in 2007. He served in the field artillery in combat in Afghanistan. Millwood was honorably discharged in 2010 at the rank of SPC4.
Ron Mischnick served in the Nebraska Army National Guard from 1965 to 1971, earning the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Kolle.