Quilts of Valor at Renaissance by Rennes

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (WFHR, WIRI) – The ceremony for Quilts of Valor took place at Renaissance by Rennes in Wisconsin Rapids this week. Eleven veterans are recognized for their service during a heartfelt ceremony on April 23rd, 2025. Each quilt is handcrafted by The Material Girls of Wisconsin. They are a beautiful tribute to each veteran’s service, sacrifice, and valor.

Ceremony

The Material Girls of Wisconsin Rapids presented quilts to each veteran. During the ceremony, the quilt is draped around the veteran’s shoulders. Attendees hear about the veteran’s training, service and time spent defending our country.

Tom Heiser served as part of the color guard from the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 101. They took part in the Quilts of Valor ceremony on Wednesday. He stated, “Quilts of Valor where veterans receive a quilt that cannot be sold, cannot be given away as a present, it belongs to the veteran and can stay within the family.” Tom said it was an honor to be a part of the day. Many of the veterans honored served in the 1950s during the Korean Conflict Situation.

Veteran Group

Jeff Peters is a retired veteran himself. He was mentioned during the ceremony as a friend of the veterans at Renaissance by Rennes. Jeff visits the facility every Thursday morning at 10AM to talk with veterans and share stories. He said, “We sit together and have coffee, donuts and we just talk about their lives. You know, their service, what they’ve done. They go from 89 to 102 and it’s just amazing to me the memories that they have. One of the reasons I did this is I wanted to be able to pass those memories on.” Jeff said family members are always welcome to join them at 10AM on Thursdays.

Nominate a Veteran

The next Quilt of Valor ceremony will happen this summer. You can nominate a veteran to receive a quilt. The nomination form is on the Quilts of Valor Foundation website. You can find out more about the Material Girls of Wisconsin Rapids on their Facebook page.