July 2022 Veteran of the Month and Veteran Supporter of the Month Recognized

Michael Terry and Comstock Lode Quilters receive statewide honor and recognition  

Michael Terry and the Comstock Lode Quilters (Quilts of Valor) are to be congratulated!  Mr. Terry was named Veteran of the Month while the Comstock Lode Quilters (Quilts of Valor) received Veteran Supporter of the Month award for July 2022.  

Mr. Michael Terry is a U.S. Navy veteran who retired with the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer. He continues to serve as a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1002 in Fallon, having also served at the local, district and state levels within the organization. 

Mr. Terry’s volunteer work within the VFW includes ensuring no one would go hungry on Thanksgiving or Christmas by preparing and serving dinners for veterans and the community. He has also served on the post’s ceremonial team for military and civilian events. Some of those events included Memorial Day activities which he helped to coordinate and has served as an emcee. Mr. Terry also assisted when the post hosted the State VFW Mid-Winter Conference in 2015.  

In addition to supporting veterans, Mr. Terry’s volunteer work has directly supported military members stationed at the Naval Air Station in Fallon. He helped new chief petty officers with community projects that included helping clean-up property belonging to disabled veterans. As a show of appreciation, the NAS Fallon command master chief presented Mr. Terry with a star from a U.S. flag that flew in 2020 in the SAR Mountains, that extends from southern Kosovo to northwestern North Macedonia.     

Mr. Terry’s work in the community has been extensive. He has supported the VFW’s annual Easter Egg Hunt. Additionally, he has served as a mentor to younger veterans and participated in community events to honor veterans or students. Over the past decade, he organized the Voice of Democracy and Patriot Pen contests in Fallon and worked alongside other VFW coordinators in Hawthorne and Tonopah.  

Mr. Terry has worked with leaders in the community, including judges, to honor teachers who incorporated the military and American ideals into their curriculum. Fallon is home to several teachers who have won district and state awards. In 2017, a Fallon teacher was named National VFW Teacher of the Year.   

The Comstock Lode Quilters and Quilts of Valor have performed ceremonies and provided their handmade quilts to hundreds of veterans throughout Nevada. Their quilts are presented to honor the service and sacrifice of veterans and to symbolize the connectedness of Nevada’s veterans.  

The Quilts of Valor Foundation was started in 2003 to promote healing to those touched by war. Each quilt is specially made for each veteran or servicemember to enjoy. In December of 2021, the Comstock Lode Quilters presented quilts to each and every resident living at the Northern Nevada State Veterans Home, totaling to 91 quilt presentations in one day. The residents were touched by the generosity of the quilters, and the event is still talked about to this day. The quilters have also worked closely with NDVS to surprise members of local veteran organizations, like the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 989, with quilts during the Vietnam War Remembrance Day Ceremony also held at the Northern Nevada State Veterans Home. This group has 

devoted countless hours to crafting, sewing, and presenting these beautiful quilts to veterans and servicemembers throughout our community. Their presence is truly calming and provides a safe space for veterans to reminisce about their service and feel appreciated. 

Nominate a Veteran or a Veteran Supporter Today!   

Veteran of the Month – Guidelines and Nomination Forms 

The Veteran of the Month (VOM) award recognizes Nevada veterans who contribute their time and energy to support veterans, their communities and/or the military. View the VOM guidelines and and nomination form. 

Veteran Supporter of the Month – Guidelines and Nomination Forms 

The Veteran Supporter of the Month (VSM) Award recognizes both active organizations and non-veteran Nevada community members that provide exceptional support to military stationed in Nevada, Nevada veterans, and their families. View for VSM guidelines and nomination form.