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Clearwater County Veterans Dennis Huwe and Virgil Prestby received Quilts of Valor at a recent meeting of the Bagley American Legion Irvin Blix Post 16.

Gladys Lueken of the Headwaters Quilt Guild started the meeting by presenting Quilts Of Valor.

The Quilt of Valor is an expression of gratitude meant to thank and comfort the veteran who receives it. The veteran is honored for leaving all that was held dear to serve whether in times of crisis or in peace time. The Quilt of Valor says thank you for your service, sacrifice and valor in serving our nation.

The first honored recipient of the Quilt of Valor was Dennis Huwe. This quilt was constructed and awarded by Mary Ann Erickson, a member of the Headwaters Quilt Guild and Quilt of Valor Foundation.

Contributed

Huwe's family had a history of serving the country; five uncles served in the armed forces as did several cousins. His two brothers also served our country; one was in the Air Force and the other in the National Guard.

In February 1959, at the age of 19, fully aware he could be drafted, Huwe and a friend decided to enlist on their own. Both did their training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

In February 1960, he was assigned to the Service Battery, 2nd Howitzer Battalion, 19th Artillery in South Korea. In June 1960, a reorganization put him in the Headquarters Battery 1st Artillery Howitzer Battalion, 77th Artillery, located in Munson South Korea, about two and a half miles from the Demilitarized Zone.

Huwe's Military Occupational Specialty was Personnel Administrative Specialist. He received his final honorable discharge on Jan. 31, 1965.

Huwe is proud to have served in the military of the U.S. Army. He credits his service for helping him mature and steer him into a career in law enforcement for five years before he began working for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as a conservation officer.

Once retiring from the DNR, Dennis was employed part-time by the Clearwater County Sheriff's Office for 10 years before retiring in 2006. Huwe has been a member of the Irvin Blix American Legion Post 16 for 45 years and served on the color guard and flag detail.

The second honored recipient of the Quilt of Valor, constructed and presented by Linda Gulbranson, was Veteran Virgil Prestby.

Prestby grew up in Clearwater County and graduated from Gonvick High ÍáÍáÂþ»­ in 1954. He began his military career in 1954, taking his basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Base near Chicago.

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Prestby completed specialist training for a machine accountant in Bainbridge, Maryland. He was sent back to the Great Lakes Naval Base and completed his service before being honorably discharged in 1958 as a Korean War Era Veteran with the rank of E5.

Using the GI bill, Prestby attended Bemidji State College and graduated with a teaching degree in Biology. He taught for many years at Bagley High ÍáÍáÂþ»­ before retiring. There were many in attendance at the Legion meeting who had Mr. Prestby as a teacher.

Prestby has been a faithful and dedicated member of the Irvin Blix American Legion Post 16 for over 60 years. During this time in the organization, he has been in charge of the Veteran's Day Dinner for 15 years and has served on various house committees.