News

Gibbs granted the Auxiliary’s highest honor in the state

By Scott Wagar

07/08/2014

Willow City native, Olive Gibbs, has been granted the highest honor in the state of North Dakota by the American Legion Auxiliary for her gracious heart, creative mind and skillful hands in stitching incredible block quilts together in support of our state’s veterans.

During the North Dakota American Legion Auxiliary 2014 State Convention, Ginny Brazil, chairman for the North Dakota American Legion Auxiliary, named Gibbs the “Woman of the Year” in the category of Past President Parley for North Dakota Legion Auxiliary.

Gibbs, who is a member of the Willow City American Legion Auxiliary Post #112, and past president of Willow City’s local auxiliary, earned the accolade because of her community service, accomplishments and activities with a local quilting club she heads-up in Willow City which grants comfort and care to hundreds of veterans in the state.

Although the WCMQ is a group of many quilters who work as one, Gibbs leads the way in making sure the quilts get completed and sent to the proper people. Her home is the headquarters and starting point of every quilt that is made by the mission quilters.

Individuals, from the around the local area, drop off donated fabric, thread, quilting supplies and rolls of banting to Gibbs’ home.

Gibbs takes the donated items and makes the quilts in her home. From there, she takes the quilts to the First Lutheran Church in Willow City where during the months of January, February and March the WCMQ meet once a week in the church’s basement and ties the quilts together.

At the end of each session, Gibbs, herself, hems each and every quilt before they are sent out into the communities.

For Gibbs, she is known in her community for being very dedicated in her quilt making, and for being seen with her lights on in her house late into the night working the quilts  
In 2014, the WCMQ created 291 quilts and made the decision to grant every resident in the North Dakota Veteran Home in Lisbon, N.D., with a quilt, with additional quilts given to the veterans’ home to assist them in its activities program.

Along with the quilts given to the veterans in Lisbon, six more quilts were given to the remaining World War II veterans in Willow City with gratitude for their service to their county. Other quilts were donated to local community veterans who have health issues or are residents of assisted living or nursing homes.

The remaining quilts went to the North Dakota Youth Correctional Center in Mandan, Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, foster care programs, family crisis, fire and rescue, sheriff’s departments patrol vehicles, ski patrol, hospice cancer care centers, church youth groups, local nursing homes, families in need and many more.

Of the 291 quilts that were made in 2014, Gibbs is recognized in making around 250 of the quilts on her own.

“It (quilting) is a daily event for her,” said Colleen Nehring, the daughter of Gibbs. “She loves doing it.”

Due to WCMQ’s focus to honor North Dakota veterans with their quilts, and the enormous role Gibbs plays in making the quilts, the North Dakota American Legion Auxiliary made the decision to bestow its “Woman of the Year” award to her.

During her acceptance speech at the state convention, Gibbs, who is known in Willow City as a very quiet and humble person, spoke clearly on how she felt about the award she received.
“I am so honored to represent this great state of North Dakota,” Gibbs said.

With being named the auxiliary’s “Women of the Year,” she has been invited to attend the national convention in Charlotte, N.C., where she could be named the “Woman of the Year” by the American Legion Auxiliary national chapter.

For now, no doubt light can be seen through Gibbs’ windows as she continues to stitch for those who are in need of a quilt with love and comfort from not only her hands, but her dear heart.