McHenry County Historical Society to host Valor Quilt presentation

The McHenry County Historical Society is once again partnering with the Gazebo Valor Quilters of Huntley to honor local veterans as Memorial Day approaches.

Recipients, family, guests and supporters are invited to stop by at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at the McHenry County Historical Museum, 6422 Main St. and offer thanks to these servicemen.

Since 2011, the Gazebo Valor Quilters have given away about 3,390 quilts to deserving men and women. A dozen or so people will honored that afternoon.

They represent all branches of the military and include Purple Heart recipient Richard Podemski, a Marine who served in Vietnam, and Donald Klisch, who spent 42 years in the Navy and Air Force. Both live in Huntley.

"I liked it and I wasn't about to give it up because I knew at the end of the tunnel there would be a lot of benefits," said Klisch, 88. "Then they said, 'You have to get out.' They wouldn't let me stay anymore."

Klisch spent 26 years with the Navy, first at Glenview Naval Air Station and later in the reserves.

During that time he did electrical work on airplanes, as well as serving a flight engineer, flight attendant and radio man as part of the Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 51 (VR-51).

In the Air Force he was assigned to the 928th Civil Engineering Squadron, working on airplanes at O'Hare Field in Chicago. He retired a E-8 Senior Master Sergeant.

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 mchenrycountyhistory.org/heritage-quilters.