Quilts of Valor Awarded to Fitzgibbon Medical Staff

December 19, 2023

A life of service is commonplace for many who enter the medical field. But for three Fitzgibbon Hospital medical staff members, a life of service was recognized recently by the Stitch-by-Stitch Quilt Guild through their Quilts of Valor program. The handmade quilts were given to Tim Ryan, D.O., Bill Smith, M.D., and Mark Nolan, ADN/RN/VABC. Ryan and Nolan were awarded their quilts during a ceremony at The Rock church on Nov. 14. Smith was awarded his quilt during a presentation on Dec. 12 in the Fitzgibbon Hospital Atrium.

“The Quilts of Valor Foundation was formed in 2003, with the mission to cover service people and veterans touched by war with the comfort and heat of a quilt,” said Marty Webster, a “maker” in the Stitch-by-Stitch Guild. The guild members make and awards Quilts of Valor to local men and women who serve or have served in the military.

“The foundation has delivered more than 327,000 handmade quilts to veterans and members of the Armed Forces through local guilds and individuals looking to make a difference,” she said.

Smith, who received his quilt on Dec. 12, served in the United States Air Force from 1983-1986, and then served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1986-1989 as a Physician Assistant. He has been a practicing physician for more than 30 years.

Ryan, who received his quilt on Nov. 14, served in the United States Army as a physician from 1991-1997. Ryan served in Operation Desert Storm and has been a physician for more than 30 years.

Nolan, who received his quilt along with Ryan, served in the United States Air Force from 1983-2006. Nolan, a registered nurse, has worked in Fitzgibbon Hospital’s surgery suites since 2017 and is board-certified for Vascular Access.

The Quilts of Valor Foundation was founded in 2003 when the son of a woman named Catherine Roberts returned from Iraq. She noticed a difference in his well-being when he wrapped himself in a quilt that had been given to him. She later had a dream of a young man who had come home from war, sitting on the edge of his bed in the middle of the night. The young man was struggling to deal with his experiences in war. Then, in her dream, she saw him receive comfort and healing from a quilt in which he wrapped himself. It was then that the Quilts of Valor was born.

Individuals who would like to participate in the program are encouraged to attend a Stitch-by-Stitch Quilt Guild meeting. The guild meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday each month at The Rock church in Marshall. If you know someone who is either active duty or is a veteran who would benefit from receiving such an honor as a Quilt of Valor, or if you would like more information, you are encouraged to reach out to the Stitch-by-Stitch Quilt Guild by calling Webster at (660) 815-3165.