Quilts of Valor presented to Hononegah grad; step dad

MARIANNE MUELLER PHOTO The Herald
Tom Streck (left) was surprised during a Quilts of Valor ceremony at the Rockton American Legion along with his step-son Henry Kluever Smith, (middle) Each was presented with a Quilt of Valor by Angelika Streck.

By Marianne Mueller
REPORTER
Henry Smith is a 2010 graduate of Hononegah High School. He joined the Army National Guard at the age of 17; as a high school junior. He has been serving our country ever since.
“I decided it would be a good opportunity to learn some life skills, and to build a foundation for life after high school,” he reflects. “I wasn’t sure if college was for me.”
“I did basic training in Fort Knox Kentucky for three months, and then moved to advanced training in Georgia for eight months. After coming back home for a little while I did pre-deployment in Texas for a couple of months and just under a year in Kuwait.”
Smith’s stepfather Thomas Streck began serving in 1974. “I was in the United States Army 4th Infantry Mechanized where I served for three years,” Streck said.
Streck worked as a Ground Surveillance Radar Crewman. His job was to go in advance of the Company to find and to map enemy positions and troop strength. His crew was the front line in moving forward. He and his fellow squad members were the leading edge troop movement. Being a mechanized unit they had to drive tanks, armor personnel carriers, trucks, all of the mechanized equipment to support movement of armored vehicles.
Streck became a member of the American Legion in 2018. “The American Legion does more to help Veterans than any other unit,” Shrek lauds. “For the first time in 40 years I have actually felt welcomed home.”
A Quilts of Valor presentation at the Rockton American Legion on Sunday, June 23 honored both for their service. Angelika Streck said a few words prior to presenting her son and husband with a handmade quilt made with respect and love for each. As Henry entered the American Legion Post 332 members of the Rifle Squad lined two sides of a hallway. Followed by his Mother Kluever Smith received a salute in the hallway followed by a standing ovation mixed with roaring applause. Before the official quilt presentation from Streck shared, “When Henry’s friends were celebrating graduating from high school he was preparing to go back to serve our country.”
In a moving moment Angelika placed a specially made quilt around Henry’s shoulders. She then surprised Tom with his recognizing his years of service along with expressing gratitude to the American Legion Post 332 as she placed a colorful, glorious quilt over his shoulders saying, “Welcome Home.”
“It was a great honor to be given the quilt, “I couldn’t have been nominated by a more patriotic person,” Tom said. “Our Veterans deserve respect. Back when I was in the Military there was no respect shown. I love that this is now being done right. We have to be here for them and to keep them first in our minds and hearts. This quilt is very commemorative.”
Henry echoes these sentiments. “The ceremony was great. I appreciate the time and effort that my Mom spent to put it together. She always does her best to let me know that she is proud.”
“I found out about Quilts of Valor from a presenter who came to the V.F.W. in Roscoe to talk about the foundation and what it consisted of from the beginning to where it is now,” Angelika said. “She was seeking donations. She said that each quilt cost approximately $250 to make and they do not ask anyone to pay. There is a small group of ladies that get together at the Roscoe United Methodist church to make these quilts. “
“All that is necessary to get a quilt is to submit a Veteran’s name and branch of the Military that they served in and a phone number. You will be contacted when the quilt is finished and a presentation is then scheduled. I thought the quilt would take a year or better to be finished and I had put in the request back around October. I was stunned when they called me in April to tell me it was ready,” Streck said. “With my son in Omaha I had to figure out how to get him home for a presentation.”
“Tom knew about the quilt I had requested for him, but had no idea when he would be receiving it. I had him help me plan the surprise for my son once I had a date of the weekend he would be home. I told my son he had to come home to surprise Tom with a presentation; but he had no idea what kind of presentation it was going to be.
“Tom didn’t want his presentation to take place at the same time as his step son since he was asking the Legion to help facilitate the event. I was going to split it up but had already committed to the date with the foundation. Jim Griffin of the American Legion came up with the ideas of how to present the quilt to Tom without him knowing about it. I was able to pull off a double surprise.
“In a world where a small fraction of donation goes toward Veterans this organization assures that this covers 100 percent for all Veterans,” Angelika said.”
The Quilts of Valor Foundation started in 2003 by Catherine Roberts of Seaford DE. Behind this mission is freedom quilts being presented to help wounded combat warriors and Veterans. Quilts of Valor are a non-profit organization whose goal is to cover all physically or psychologically wounded with a freedom quilt as a Thank you for the Veterans sacrifice, service and valor. Details on how nominations are accepted and more can be found on the Quilts of Valor website.