Veteran Bobby Schley, of DeWitt County, was honored with a quilt as a part of the Quilt of Valor Program at a livestock show in Canton, TX on Saturday, March 15.
Schley, with his wife of 53 years, Bonnie, was presented with the quilt at the opening of the Metch Memorial Livestock Show.
The Quilt of Valor program began in 2003 by a quilter, Catherine Roberts when her son was deployed in Iraq. To date the program has presented over 190,000 quilts to honor service members and veterans who have been touched by war with comforting and healing.
The quilt was made by 12 students in Van Zandt County as a part of the Metch Leadership Program. The top was completed by Sydni Schley, Boyd Welch, Harper Ellis, Casey Conway, Paige Roberts, Brendan Talbott, Naomi Palmer, Lauren Eaton, Emi Welborn, Kaitlyn Baxter, Breanne Talbott, and Zack Jeffery and Leaders Faith Caughron and Barbara Metch-Holan. The quilting and binding were done by Linda Bailey.
Bobby Schley, raised in DeWitt County, graduated from St. Joseph High School in Victoria in 1968. He promptly joined the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, serving until March 1971. Once honorably discharged from the Army, he returned to DeWitt County where he currently resides. He owned a construction company and carpentry business to support his family, children Sheila, Brad and Travis. He currently farms and ranches in the county and volunteers at the VFW Post in Cuero.
