By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Special to the Reporter

COLUMBIANA – One of the highlights of the Columbiana Quilt Walk on Saturday, Oct. 11, will be the Quilts of Valor ceremony at 1 p.m. at the Hume Scout Plaza in front of Columbiana City Hall on Mildred Street. In case of rain, the event will be held inside city hall.

The mission of QOV is to “cover all combat service members and veterans with comforting Quilts of Valor.” Each handmade quilt is a tangible reminder to the veteran of our nation’s thankfulness for their service.

Prolific quilter Sarah Hodgens Atchison has organized the QOV patriotic event to honor approximately 25 war veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Atchison and fellow quilter Carolyn Cochran have quilted most of the quilts for this ceremony. The ceremony will start with the Color Guard of Boy Scout Troop 560 led by Scoutmaster Sid Wheeler raising the United States of America Flag followed by singing by Isabella Powell. Judi Elliott and David Powell will assist in the quilting of the veterans.

What makes a person spend hours to make quilts for someone else? Atchison, married to husband Edwin for 49 years, has been quilting for others her whole life.

She grew up in a family that always gave away. Her father had a prolific garden and gave away the plenty to the community. Atchison learned to sew from her mother who made clothes from feed sacks, quilts from material scraps and crocheted exquisitely.

She quilts close to 100 quilts a year for others, friends, veterans, abused and critically ill children using her Gammil computerized long arm quilter in her sewing room.

Atchison made the “in honor of” quilt that will be the grand door prize given at Quilt Walk at 5 p.m. at Music on Main Vintage Gray Band performance from 4-6 p.m.