While many of their classmates were being honored for scholarships received and future college plans, two members of the Callaway High School Class of 2024 were recognized for choosing a different path. Dylan Handley and Brady Brestel have elected to serve in the military after high school, and the two young men were presented with a Quilt of Valor during the CHS graduation ceremony on May 12.

A Quilt of Valor is a quality, handmade quilt that is machine or hand-quilted. Any service member or living veteran who served in one of the following branches: Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, are eligible to receive a Quilt of Valor. Members of the activated National Guard and activated or active duty-special work (ADSW) reservists are also included.

Both Handley and Brestel have joined the Army National Guard. The young men spent the summer of 2023 in basic training and participated in weekend RSP (Recruitment Sustainment Program) training throughout their senior year. Now graduated, the two are headed to AIT (Advanced Individual Training).

Handley went to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for basic training last summer, and will head back to that base for AIT. Meanwhile, Brestel is taking his training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

The Quilt of Valor is a token of appreciation that conveys a three-part message: Honor - A thank you for their service and sacrifice. Freedom - An acknowledgment that freedom is not free.

Comfort - A reminder that the service member is always in the thoughts and hearts of their family and friends.

Each of the quilts presented has a tag on the bottom corner with the young man’s name, the name of who made the quilt, and the date it was presented.