By Christopher Johnson
Farwell, like many other locations around Clare County, celebrated Veterans Day with an outpouring of pride for the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces.
At 11:00 AM a flag ceremony took place in the Village Park with VFW Post 3039 and the Farwell High School Band. Meanwhile, American Legion Post 558 enjoyed a free breakfast for vets. This included pancakes with biscuits and gravy, sausage links, hashbrowns, Bloody Mary and Mimosa.
Tim Feig, the Legion’s commander, introduced the Review to his father-in-law for a heartwarming human interest story.
Everett M. Shine is a Navy veteran who was awarded a Quilt of Valor that morning for his service as an E-4 from 1961 to 1964. The presentation came as a startling surprise to Everett, who had no idea as his shoulders were suddenly crowned with an immaculate quilt in a celebratory moment with family, friends, and fellow servicemen. His eyes were triggered several times as the morning carried on. Overwhelmed by the love and respect that every veteran should have a chance to enjoy.
It was a truly emotional day for this gentleman, and for all the best reasons.
A quilt of this nature is handmade by volunteers from around the country and awarded to exceptional servicemen and women as a gesture of the deepest gratitude.
“If you look really close, you can still see the tears”, jokes Everett as he invites the inquiring eye to appreciate the quilt’s finer details. “It’s a very moving thing. Very, very emotional. You can see other people receive them, but when it happens for you, you realize just how powerful it is.”
Up close, it reveals a deliberate patchwork of deep navy blues, brick reds, and creamy whites. Its palette pulled straight from the American flag. The quilting stitches wander in rhythmic, hand-guided lines, looping and intersecting with brilliant authenticity to form a signature in one corner. Steady, human, and unhurried. On the navy sections, tiny white stars repeat across the fabric like a night sky. Red borders cut bold, linear frames around each block, giving structure to the softer field of color.
The star-spangled fabric continues in a celebratory burst of red, white, and blue patterns: shooting stars, flag stripes, and bright constellations stitched with variegated thread that subtly shifts color as it winds across the surface. The quilt’s face is adorned with bold geometric medallions. Octagonal patches that alternate between vintage calico prints and crisp solids.
The design gives an almost mosaic feel that echoes the personality and countryside of Clare County itself. It’s an utterly gorgeous stroke of craftsmanship.
When held open, the quilt spans wide enough to envelop a person or persons. In this case, wide enough for both Everett and his wife, Bonnie.
“Of all the American Legions, this is the best.” prides Shine. “I used to be in the Stanton Legion, and I got out of there and came up to this one. The people are wonderful and there’s so much stuff they do here. They’re always doing something, and people support it big time.”
Everett insists he will not be cuddling with his quilt any time soon. Instead, he will be displaying it proudly in his home. Honestly, who can blame him?
