Post Messenger Recorder -

New Glarus Brewing Company held a party on Saturday night for employees and invited guests. Soon after the dinner, prepared by New Glarus Fire Department personnel, Dan Carey got up to speak. He thanked everyone who was there and introduced Vicki Sasso of Sugar River Quilts of Valor. Carey also said that he and Deb would like to thank the New Glarus Brewing Company Veterans, as well as all Veterans.

Sasso told the audience that she had organized the group, Sugar River Quilts of Valor, in October of 2014. The group's only purpose is to make quilts for veterans. Sasso informed the audience that since the group's inception, the very dedicated quilters have sewn over 400 QOV for our nation's veterans.

The quilts are handmade and take approximately three months to complete. The funds for the material for the quilts largely come from the individual quilters.

In 2003, a quilter and blue star mother had the idea of comforting veterans with quilts during the time her son was deployed in Iraq sitting atop a Humvee. She started a non-profit grassroots group of quilters from all across the US. Since then their all-volunteer membership, consisting of over 10,000 quilters, has awarded over 166,000 veterans a Quilt of Valor in the United States, Germany, Iraq and Afghanistan.

On Saturday night, the Sugar River Quilt of Valor group presented eleven brewery employees with quilts. Those who were eligible were also presented with a pin commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

The employees who were presented with a quilt and/or pin are:

Lance Altmann

Lance served for three years in the US Navy, at the rank of 3rd Class Petty Officer. Long Beach, California, was his home port with the aircraft carrier USS Antietam as his duty station.

Ernest Downing

Ernest was a member of the US Marine Corps, served us actively for eight years from July 2004 to July 2012. Camp Pendleton, California, was his home base, but he was also assigned to the USS Tarawa, USS Tortuga, and USS Essex, as well as in Okinawa, Japan, aboard Camp Hansen. At the end of his service, he was a Sergeant with Weapons Company 1st Battalion 4th Marines.

Kord Flesher

Kord was in the Navy for four years, beginning his service in 1984 as an Aviation Electrician's Mate, where he performed maintenance on SH 60 Bravo helicopters. His duty stations included Great Lakes for boot camp and Mayport, Florida, for three years.

Benjamin Geisthardt

Benjamin served for eight years in the US Marine Corps, with six years active duty and two years inactive. His rank was Corporal and he was stationed in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Under Operation Iraqi Freedom he saw tours in Iraq and Kuwait.

Willis "Chic" Gladding

"Chic" is a Vietnam Era Veteran, having served us for three years in the US Navy from 1958-1961. Pensacola, Florida, was his duty station where he was attached to an aircraft carrier.

Gifford Hoesly

At the rank of Spec 5, Giff served for seven years in the Army National Guard. He was stationed out of Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Bart Koch

Bart served for four years in the US Air Force. His rank was Senior E4 Air Man, and his duty station was Florida. Bart was deployed overseas to Germany.

Gregory McGinnis

Greg served in the US Army from 1972-1974, which makes him a Vietnam Era Veteran. He was stationed in Nuremburg, Germany, serving with the Military Police. Greg also served in the National Guard in 1982, and again in 1989.

DeWayne Moss

From 2005-2011, DeWayne served in the Army National Guard. He served with the 11B Infantry at the rank of SPC E 4. Dewayne's stateside station was Machesney Park, Illinois. He was deployed to Jalalabad, Afghanistan, and Kandahar City.

Scott Noll

Scott served in the US Army from 2001-2005, which included a 15-month tour in Iraq. He was stationed out of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. His responsibilities were as a Gunner in the Field Artillery.

Joel Wallschlaeger

Joel served for four years in the National Guard out of Fort McCoy. His rank was E4 with the MOS Unit as a Calvary Scout.