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Just days before his 93rd birthday the family of veteran Robert Rongitsch and his wife Marlys surprised the obviously beloved father and grandfather with a quilt of valor.

Rongitsch received his custom-sewn Quilt of Valor through the Anoka County-based “Grateful Hearts” quilting group. The ceremony that his family secretly organized took place June 2 at the All County Veterans Memorial on mainstreet in Lindstrom.

Rongitsch was honorably discharged from the Navy in January 1946 and he had seen quite a bit of the world by then.  He started his Navy service in 1942, a 19-year- old aboard the destroyer USS Stevens. He went next to serve on the Taluga in 1944 in the Pacific and fnished aboard an aircraft carrier.

Representing Chisago area veterans’ posts-- Rick Ekstrand led the volunteer color guard in the presentation of the quilt.  Quilters Rita and Lucy, said the national organization has distributed almost 160,000 quilts of valor.  

The quilts can be requested for an individual (see website) plus the group will deliver quilts to care facilities, those in Hospice and Veterans Administration sites.  

Ekstrand told Rogitsch and his relatives that the post was truly honored to be there for this special accolade and that this is a well-deserved recognition.  The gathered family and friends sang the Navy song and retired from the heat to the Rongitsch house for cake and refreshments.

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