Following the Alba Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, Nov. 7, members of the Wood County 4-H Fashion and Interior Design group honored two Wood County veterans through their participation in the Texas 4-H Under Our Wings, Quilts of Valor project.

Quilter Catherine Roberts started the Quilts of Valor program in 2003 when her son was deployed to Iraq. The mission is to provide comforting and healing quilts to honor service members and veterans who have been touched by war.

Since then, more than 460,000 Quilts of Valor have been awarded across the United States. 4-H members Emma Schuttler, Kynlee Fuller and Jessica Moore chose this project to connect young people with those who have served their country and to let the veterans know their service is not forgotten.

They chose to honor Wood County residents retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Alan Atherton and retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jerry Morris. Atherton served in the U.S. Air Force from March 1967 to 1990. He received numerous commendations, including the Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Meritorious Service Medal.

He also worked as a systems engineer on the development and flight testing of reconnaissance equipment for the Air Force’s U-2R and Global Hawk high-altitude aircraft.

Morris served in the U.S. Army from September 1967 to August 1994. During his service, he received the Combat Infantryman Badge, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Vietnam Service Medal and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Asked about an interesting fact from his service, Morris noted that he commanded the same infantry battalion in which his father served during World War II.