Veterans honored with Valor Quilts

Since 2011, the Gazebo Valor Quilters have given away about 3,100 quilts to deserving men and women. This year they gathered on Veterans Day, outside in front of the 1895 West Harmony School at the McHenry County Historical Museum in Union, to pass out quilts COVID style: non-contact distribution of wrapped red, white and blue quiilts in trunks of cars.

The event was captured by ABC Channel 7 in Chicago. To view the video, click HERE.

Honorees this year included Sleepy Hollow resident John Fenzel. Fenzel served in the Army from 1954-56 in Cold War Europe. Also, three of his four children served or are serving their country. John Boyle, of Huntley, was in the U.S. Marine Corps between 1951-54.

World War II veteran Anthony Catalano, who served with the Army Air Force (formerly the Air Corps) between 1941-44, also will be recognized; as will George Wolk, in Air Force from 1962-65; 30-year Army veteran Steven Ferry;  and John Henning, of Huntley, who served two years in an Army medical unit – first as a cook and later as a special diet supervisor at Rodriguez General Hospital – Fort Brooke, Puerto Rico.

Navy men Gary Haynes, an airplane mechanic aboard the carrier USS America from 1965-71, and the father-son team of Herman P. Schimpa Jr. and Herman Schimpa III also will receive quilts. The senior Schimpa served on the USS Independence from 1964-73, and his son served from 1998-2002 onboard the USS Carl Vinson during Operation Desert Storm.

For more information about the Gazebo Valor Quilts, contact Cathy Smetters at cbsmetters@ameritech.net. To fill out a Valor Quilt application for yourself or a loved one visit https://mchenrycountyhistory.org/heritage-quilters.

Since 2011, the Gazebo Valor Quilters have given away about 3,100 quilts to deserving men and women. Honorees this year include Sleepy Hollow resident John Fenzel. Fenzel served in the Army from 1954-56 in Cold War Europe. Also, three of his four children served or are serving their country. John Boyle, of Huntley, was in the U.S. Marine Corps between 1951-54.

World War II veteran Anthony Catalano, who served with the Army Air Force (formerly the Air Corps) between 1941-44, also will be recognized; as will George Wolk, in Air Force from 1962-65; 30-year Army veteran Steven Ferry;  and John Henning, of Huntley, who served two years in an Army medical unit – first as a cook and later as a special diet supervisor at Rodriguez General Hospital – Fort Brooke, Puerto Rico.

Navy men Gary Haynes, an airplane mechanic aboard the carrier USS America from 1965-71, and the father-son team of Herman P. Schimpa Jr. and Herman Schimpa III also will receive quilts. The senior Schimpa served on the USS Independence from 1964-73, and his son served from 1998-2002 onboard the USS Carl Vinson during Operation Desert Storm.

For more information about the Gazebo Valor Quilts, contact Cathy Smetters at cbsmetters@ameritech.net. To fill out a Valor Quilt application for yourself or a loved one visit https://mchenrycountyhistory.org/heritage-quilters.