ABOVE: Joan Syverson, Debra Engman and Linda Maday and with one of the quilts on display while holding flag bag kits. The kits will be available during the Feb. 20 open house for those who want to contribute without having to make an entire quilt.

FAIRMONT–With two years under their belt, South Central MN Quilts for Veterans will display some of their creations at the Red Rock Center for the Arts starting today through Feb. 27.

The collection will all go toward the group’s mission of a quilt for every veteran in Martin County, with some going to Bravo Zulu House. Currently, they have a list of 1,200 veterans and have gifted 75 of them. This includes Fairmont, Northrop, Welcome, Ceylon, Trimont and Sherburn.

American patriotism, home décor and nature scenes are main themes that run through the displayed collection.

Director Linda Maday said she started the group due to her appreciation for the country she lives in and something meaningful to do after she retired as a teacher.

“I am thankful for every reason that I am free to live in America,” she said. “They’re a big part of that giving, their sacrifice to help us all be free. It was also a calling. As I retired from teaching, [I thought] ‘What was I going to do with my time and talents?’ That was answered by doing something like this for our veterans.”

She and four other main members do most of the sewing, though they always appreciate help from others. This help will be especially beneficial with a $3,000 grant received from the Martin County Area Foundation.

“We’re doing our flag bag kits again,” Maday said. “All that’s needed is for a quilt top to be sewn together. So any sewers in Martin County can check one out and take it and sew a quilt top for us, and we will do the backing and long arming and take care of the finishing.”

Group members Joan Syverson and Debra Engman said although the group is young, they have already felt the impact of their work.

“It’s absolutely fantastic,” Syverson said. “I’ve never seen so many elderly gentlemen tear up before.”

“They’re humble,” Engman said. “They sometimes still don’t believe they deserve it. We encourage them and say ‘You’ve sacrificed, your family sacrificed, and we want to honor that sacrifice.”

In addition to the exhibit, there will be an Open House from 1-4 p.m. on Feb. 20. Coffee and flag bag kits will be available. Maday said it’s a good way to get noticed in the community.

“There’s a lot of people that don’t know this is happening,” she said. “That we’re in Martin County and doing this. Winter is a good time in Minnesota to pick up a kit and do some sewing for us.”

Maday said the goal is to continue working until all veterans have received a quilt. They are also considering a potential veterans memorial quilt drive further down the line, giving them to those 50 and older.

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/784048996433553/ or email scmnquiltsforvets23@gmail.com.