TEDD Press Release

Lockner and Lamont continue to craft and gift patriotic quilts to area Veterans

Quilters Judy Lockner and Valerie Lamont recently created and donated another stunning patriotic quilt which was gifted to a local veteran through a drawing hosted by Tri County Economic Development District (TEDD). 

At the September TEDD Board of Directors meeting, Pend Oreille County Commissioner Robert Rosencrantz drew the winning entry and announced that Gene Weller, U.S. Army Retired, of Republic, Wash. was the lucky recipient of the beautiful hand-crafted quilt.

Weller was drafted into the Army in 1961, only two months after marrying his bride, Bobbi. Weller was sent to Fort Ord, Calif. for his basic training. From there he went to Fort Lee, Va. and then was sent to Germany where he spent two years as the company armor and mail clerk. 

Bobbi recently remarked, “By the way, he loves his quilt and puts it on his lap every night when he sits and watches TV. Tell the ladies, thank you again!”

Lamont and Lockner have created dozens of quilts that have all found homes with local veterans. 

“We hope that the quilts will offer comfort and underline our appreciation for their many sacrifices,” Lamont says of the program. 

If the public would like to contribute to offset the cost of the fabric used to create these quilts, donations can be left at the TEDD office in Colville and staff will make sure Lamont and Lockner receive them.

The quilting duo have already delivered the next quilt to be given away to TEDD World Headquarters, where it will be on display until the December TEDD Board of Directors meeting, when the next winner will be drawn. 

The Veterans Quilt project invites veterans from the tri-county area to participate in the free drawing for a chance to win this beautiful quilt. Community members are also encouraged to enter on behalf of veterans they know. Entries can be submitted online at bit.ly/VeteransQuilt or in person at the TEDD office during regular office hours (Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.).

For more information and inquiries, please contact the Tri County Economic Development District at 509-684-4571 or visit tricountyedd.com.