Quilts of Valor - Brandywine Valley Quilters

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BVQ Salutes our Veterans!

Arnold Auger

On November 13, 2023, Lansdowne American Legion Post 65 members visited WWII ARMY Veteran, Arnold Auger on the day before his 99th birthday. We presented Mr. Auger with a Quilt of Valor. The quilt was handmade by Sharon Olszewsky who is a member of Brandywine Valley Quilt Guild.

Pictured with Mr. Auger are Past Legion Commander Bill Jillson (left), Past Legion Commander Larry Smalley (center), and Current Legion Commander Mike Bair (right)

John Clinton Fowler, Jr

On February 22, 2020 The Lansdowne American Post 65 presented a Quilt of Valor to Second Class Radarman John Clinton Fowler, Jr. for his outstanding service in the United States Navy from September 24th 1960 to August 1966, serving on the U.S.S. Stickell DD-888. The quilt was made by BVQ member Sharon L. Olszesky.

Frank Marsella

On Oct 19, 2019 American Legion Post 65 presented a Quilt of Valor to 1st Class Angelo Frank Marsella for his outstanding service in the United States Navy during World War II. Including his participation during the Normandy Beach Landings on D-day June 6th, 1944. Legion Members presenting the quilt are from left to right Bill Jillson, Richard Smalley, ( recipient Mr. Marsella), Mike Bair and Larry Smalley. The quilt was made by Sharon Olszewsky.

Gerald Cavanagh

On October 12, 2019 Commander Larry Smalley and Past Legion Commander Bill Jilson presented a Quilt of Valor to Leading Aircraft Man, Gerald Cavanagh Towe for his outstanding service in the Royal Canadian Airforce during World War II. Mr. Towe is 99 years old. This quilt was made by Deb Kelly.

Eldon S. Spaid

The recent Quilt of Valor was presented on December 16th, 2018 to 97 year old Army Tech Sargent Eldon S. Spaid. Mr. Eldon Spaid served in the Army from 6/24/43 to 3/9/46.

John Edward James, Jr.

On Friday, June 29th, 2018 Lansdowne American Legion Post 65, traveled to the American Revolutionary War Museum, 3rd and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, to present a 'Quilt of Valor' to John Edward James, Jr. This event in Museum's auditorium was to present Mr. James with a 2nd Lt. Commission after 76 years of denial by the US government. Mr.. James enlisted in the Army in October, 1941 and attended Officer Candidate School, class #129 at Fort Benning, Georgia. On the eve of his graduation he was told that he would not be receiving his Commission because the Army would not permit a black officer to command white soldiers. Mr. James remained a Corporal, serving in North Africa, Sicily, all the way to German surrender. He was awarded numerous citations and was Honorably Discharged in November 1945. His family fought over the years to have Mr. James awarded his LT. bar, but the Army could not find proof that he attended O C S. Pa. US Senator Casey and his staff made three attempts to locate Mr. James' Army O C S records and we're finally able to retrieve pay records that proved that Mr. James was indeed a graduate of O C S, class #129. Senator Casey and his staff were in attendance as well as Pentagon Generals, family and friends. Post 65 presented 2nd Lt. James with a Quilt of Valor crafted by the Brandywine Valley Quilters Guild. It was an honor for Post 65 members to meet a member of "America's Greatest Generation" Congratulations 2nd Lt. James!!

Richard Allen Fuller

On May 26, 2018 a Quilt of Valor was presented by The Alford Clinton Wonderlich, American Legion Post 65. The recipient was Richard Allen Fuller. He was a Sergeant in the United States Airforce from June 1966 to April 1970.

Pictured ...

Richard Smalley - American Legion

Tom Speers - American Legion

Recipient - Richard Allen Fuller

Bill Jillson - American Legion

Photo take by Larry Smalley -American Legion

Brittany Spears and Brook Spears

Lansdowne American Legion Post 65 honor two active duty service women at the Aldan American Legion Post 1000 after the Lansdowne Memorial Day parade and field ceremony. Legion member, Tom Spears and his wife Suzanne, are the proud parents of Lt. Col. Brittany Spears, US Army, and Major Brooke Spears, US Marines. Both have served multiple deployments in the middle east. 'Quilts of Valor' were presented by Larry Smalley and Bill Jillson to both for their faithful service to America! Quilts provided courtesy of The Brandywine Valley Quilters.

Donald Duffy

On Saturday March 19, 2016, members of the Lansdowne American Legion Post 65 travelled to East Norriton to present retired Lt. Donald Duffy with a Quilt of Valor made by Brandywine Valley Quilters. Mr. Duffy served in the US Army in Korea during 1952-1955. Mr. Duffy's family members were present during the ceremony and joined Post 65 in thanking Mr. Duffy for his outstanding service!

Prior to presenting Mr. Duffy with the Quilt of Valor, Post 65 members met with retired Lt.Col. Jim Gallon and retired Lt. Jack Goodrich for lunch at the Outback restaurant in Frazer.

John Edward Warhola

On Saturday, October 7th, 2015 Lansdowne American Legion Post 65 traveled to Brookhaven to present a Quilt of Valor to WWII Army veteran John Edward Warhola. Mr Warhola served in the 3rd Army Division and was wounded during the 'Battle of the Bulge'. Mr Warhola received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and numerous other awards! It was an honor for Post 65 to be in the presence of such an American hero!

The Quilt of Valor provided courtesy of the Brandywine Valley Quilters!

James Gallen

James Gallen enlisted in the Air Force in 1968 after graduating from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and served 4 years of active duty. Upon enlisting he went immediately into Officer’s Training and then to flight school. He initially flew the F-4 Phantom, including serving a tour of duty in Viet Nam in 1972. After leaving active duty with the Air Force, Jim then served for the next 18 years with the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 108th Wing, out of McGuire Air Force Base, and the New York Air Guard 174th Fighter Wing, out of Syracuse, NY. During his period with the Air Guard groups, he transitions out of the F-4 to the F-16. In late 1990, he was called up to active duty to serve in the first Gulf War. At that time, he transferred into the South Carolina Air National Guard 169th Fighter Wing, (also known as the Swamp Foxes), as they needed pilots checked out in the F-16C models they flew and served a tour of duty with them in Desert Storm . In January 1991, at the beginning of the conflict, he flew with the second wave of aircraft that attacked Baghdad. He flew several sorties in this conflict, concluding with the final attack on the Basra Road, when the Iraqi’s were fleeing Kuwait back to Iraq. When he returned from the Gulf, he retired from the Air Guard, with the rank of Lt. Colonel.

Jim’s love for flying is best described by a comment he made to his F-4 back seater when he said – “can you believe they actually pay us to fly these”.

Today – Jim is happiest driving his BMW Z3 when he still feels the need for speed…..

Jack Goodrich

Lt. Jack Goodrich flew cargo planes over the "Hump"(Himalaya mountains) during World War II. Theses supply flights provided the needed resources for the Chinese people to resist the Japanese Army and eventually prevail over Japan. The Chinese people never forgot Mr. Goodrich and last year they sent a delegation to his home in Malvern and presented him with their equivalent of the American Congressional Medal of Honor!!

Jerry Sangiamio

On Saturday morning, 16th of May, 2015, American Legion Post 65 members presented Mr. Jerry Sangiamio, with a 'Quilt of Valor' for his service during the Korean War. The "Quilt of Valor "is compliments of Brandywine Valley Quilters.

Charles Zebrowski

This BVQ Quilt of Valor, compliments of Brandywine Valley Quilters was presented to Mr. Charles Zebrowski by the Albert Clinton Wunderlich American Legion Post 65 (Commander Lawrence A. Smalley), Lansdowne, PA for his outstanding service in the United States Navy during World War II