Ernst makes stop in Wright County on tour to honor area veteran

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst took time out of her regular schedule on Friday to stop by Wright County Veterans Affairs for a special purpose.

Ernst was in the area on her 99 county tour and had stopped by Hagie Manufacturing in Clarion to tour the plant early in the morning. Before she headed to Floyd and Bremer Counties later in the day, Ernst stepped away from her tour to take part in a special ceremony for a fellow soldier and old friend.

The ceremony was the presentation of a Quilt of Valor to Sergeant Major Bob Reedy. The Quilt of Valor program was started in 2003 when a quilter named Catherine Roberts started the movement for her son who was deployed in Iraq. Since that time, over 200,000 quilts have been awarded. Sue Moss, representative of the Quilt of Valor Foundation, said the mission of the organization is “to honor service members who have been touched by war with a comforting and healing quilt.” Moss, who is from Clarion, was also responsible for constructing the quilt. She pieced the quilt, while Jolene Rasmussen also from Clarion did the actual quilting.

Senator Ernst was on hand to present the quilt to Reedy, who was a member of the Iowa National Guard for 31 years. Reedy, originally from Humboldt, now living in Eagle Grove, got to know Ernst, also a former Iowa guardsmen, during their time serving together. Reedy said he has fond memories of working with Ernst.

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