Five veterans — all related — receive Quilts of Valor
Five local veterans received two different feelings of warmth at the Tracy Eagle Club on Saturday. Chuck Filter, Steve Filter, Henry Filter, Earl Radke and Lyle Fredericks Jr. were covered in patriotic quilts and surrounded by family inside a packed Tracy Eagles Club on Saturday.
“Thank you for making this happen,” Steve Filter said after the presentation. “This is one big family thing, and it’s very special.”
All five veterans are related to Dianne and Arlie Anderson, who made the quilts. Founded in October 2025, Patriotic Piecers, a spin-off of the Quilts of Valor organization has now awarded 93 quilts to veterans of southwest Minnesota. To date, more than 460,000 veterans have earned a quilt under the national Quilts of Valor umbrella.
“We cannot judge what being touched by war means to a veteran, it will be different for each one, no matter where or when they served,” Paula Domena, group leader for the 15-member Patriotic Piecers, told the crowd Saturday. “Veterans give up their freedom, time at home with their loved ones, make other sacrifices and ultimately have no guarantee of safety.”
A Quilt of Valor is a quality, handmade quilt that is machine or hand quilted. It is awarded to a Service Member or Living Veteran who has been touched by war. The Quilt says unequivocally, “Thank you for your service and sacrifice in serving our nation.” To use the term Quilt of Valor, the quilt must be a specific size, must have a label with required information, it must be awarded (it is not a gift) and it must be recorded.
• Chuck Filter entered the U.S. Army in 1955. He completed basic training at Camp Chaffey, Arkansas and advanced artillery training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He served two years of active duty, and two additional years in the guard. He received awards for marksmanship. He was honorably discharged in 1959 at the rank of E-5 Sergeant.
• Radke entered the US Army in 1969. He completed basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and advanced training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was a tank operator on reconnaissance missions, serving two tours of duty in Cam Ranh Bay Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in 1971 at the rank of E-5 Specialist.
• Fredericks Jr. entered the U.S. Army in 1973. He completed basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He received awards for marksmanship. He was then assigned to the infantry division of the Army National Guard at Camp Ripley, Minnesota. He was honorably discharged in 1979 with the rank of E-4, Specialist.
• Steven Filter entered the US Navy in 1976. He completed basic training at the Great Lakes Training Center and NS training at Oceana Virginia Beach, Virginia. Through NES (Naval Education Strategy) in Norfolk, Nebraska he completed his Aeronautics Degree. He provided logistical support as an aviation machinist for C-1 cargo planes. He was assigned to Nicaragua intervention – transporting dignitaries out of the country. In 1980, he transported American and Baltic students safely off the Granada Island. He was also assigned to sea duty on the Saratoga and Independence Ships in Lebanon in retaliation missions for the killing of 239 marines. He was awarded the Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Readiness Medal, and Battle E Medal twice. Steve was honorably discharged in 1988 at the rank of E-6 Aviation Machinists Mate.
• Henry Filter entered the US Navy in 1984. He completed basic training in Florida, including advanced training in warfare. Throughout his 26 years of service, most of his training focused on protecting our country and supporting war efforts. He served on the USS Four Stall in Philadelphia, the USS Constitution in Boston, the USS All One in Newport. He also served in deployments to Japan, Europe, South America and Nova Scotia. Hank was honorably discharged at the rank of E-8 Senior Chief Petty Officer.
