For over a decade, veterans in Canada have been receiving ‘a hug from the nation’ through Quilts of Valour, and a presentation to Mankota’s Neil Deringer over the weekend really struck a chord.

Saturday afternoon at the Mankota Hospital, Quilts of Valour’s Regional Coordinator Marcie Erick presented a quilt to Deringer for his service as a psychological operations officer in the Croatia-Bosniak War in 1994, the Kosovo War in 1999, and in Afghanistan in 2002.

“A sense of gratitude, thankfulness, and totally appreciative of the work that went into it, and the emotion that went in along with the quilting, it’s kind of overpowering really, so it’s really totally an honour and I’m so grateful to have my own quilt now,” said Deringer. “It is special. Totally absolutely special, because I know it comes from people who are very appreciative and that to me is very emotional.”

When Deringer was 34 he joined the Canadian Military, and served for 24 years.

Deringer didn’t know he’d be receiving the gift until Saturday.

“First, surprise,” he described his reaction as. “And then you get really emotional when the magnitude and the symbolism of it hits. And I’ve seen and been at presentations before, and my first reaction really was I’m not old enough. But as my brother iss fond of saying, 'Ed having you looked in the mirror lately?'”

There were fellow veterans in attendance as well as members of the Mankota Legion and the Mankota Lions Club.

Deringer said he’s still taken aback when things like awards and quilts find their way to him.

 “I thought, you know, the ones that I’ve been to have been to Second World War, and there’s not many of them around. I guess I’ve hit that stage of life where it does hit you that hey – you’re getting older. Even though I still think young, I can tell you that I’m not moving around like I’m young anymore.

“It’s as meaningful as any of the medals that I’ve received. It’s given from the heart, and it’s appreciated from the heart. It’s an emotional level that we connect on. No need to say more, or I’ll be in tears.”

Also read, from 2017, Deringer reflecting on the importance of Remembrance Day