A Quilts of Valor ceremony was held Sunday at Lyerly Community Church to honor Butch Gardner, a U.S. Army veteran and retired employee of the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office, recognizing both his military service and the lasting impact it has had on his life and community.

The tribute included a video introduction from Colonel Mike Caldwell, who highlighted Sergeant Gardner’s service in Korea with the U.S. Army’s Imjin Scouts—an elite unit known for operating along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) near the North Korean border. The Imjin Scouts conducted high-risk patrols and reconnaissance missions during a tense Cold War-era period, operating in small teams focused on vigilance, intelligence gathering, and rapid response.

The handmade quilt was presented by members of the local Quilts of Valor chapter, including Mrs. Brenda Park, Mrs. Gloria Mosely, and Mrs. Mary Baggett, who were on hand to wrap Gardner in the quilt during the ceremony—an emotional tradition meant to symbolize warmth, gratitude, and support.

The Quilts of Valor Foundation (QOVF) is a national organization that provides handmade quilts to service members and veterans touched by war. The effort traces back to a 2003 dream by founder Catherine Roberts, centered on the idea of healing and honoring veterans through the comfort of a quilt. Organizers emphasize that these quilts are awarded, not gifted, and must meet specific size and quality standards. Each quilt is intended to serve as a tangible “thank you” for sacrifice, with thousands of volunteers across the country creating and donating them.

For Gardner, the ceremony served as both recognition and remembrance—honoring a chapter of service that took place far from home, but one that still resonates strongly in Chattooga County today.