This year’s Patriot Warriors Hunt culminated with a barbeque lunch January 11 at the Mason Community Building that drew over 100 participants, mostly veterans, who came from all over Texas, to enjoy delicious food, fellowship and participate in a raffle featuring guns, knives and other hunting paraphernalia. Seven veterans were also honored with quilts made by the local chapter of Quilts of Valor, based in Llano.
Steve Toone, Mason resident and founder and organizer of the event, said he started the event over 30 years ago, during the height of the Iraq war, to try and do something for the young Americans “ravaged by war.” A friend suggested he try taking some veterans hunting.
The first year he had two hunters, then four, then eight, and this year he estimates they had 40 veterans participate, either as active hunters, or just attending to enjoy the experience and camaraderie. At one point, Toone said he had 28 Mason County ranchers offering their property to be used for the hunt. This year, 12 ranches donated hunts to veterans.
Frances Toeppich of Mason has helped with the hunt since the beginning. Three brothers who hunt on her land have volunteered their homemade sausage for the event each year. This year, Jerry, David and Randy Schwartz of Brenham made and grilled 250 pounds of sausage for the event. Toone said over the years they have received many donations from other Mason residents. Employees at the City of Mason and Mason Bank have contributed homemade desserts and side dishes throughout the years, he said.
The nationwide Quilts of Valor organization has presented 401,361 quilts to veterans since its inception. The Llano chapter has made and given out 850 quilts since 2014, said leader Bettsye Rose. For the past ten years the Llano group has presented quilts to veterans at the Mason event, as well as about three other events in other locations throughout the year.
On November 11, the group participates in a large Veterans Day event at the Kuykendall Center in Llano, where they give away up to 25 quilts. Veterans receiving quilts at the Mason Patriot Warriors event were Chris Bishop, Bertram, United States Marine Corps (USMC) 2003-2012; Hunter Charmichael, Llano, USMC, 2007-2017; Joshua Smith, Bruceville- eddy, United States Army (USA) 20062009; Lane Chance, Llano, United States Navy (USN) 1988-1996; Donald Hannah, USAF 1974-1977; and John Lyon, USAF 1998-2001.
The Llano Quilts of Valor group has about 20 dues-paying members and is open to interested persons. Quilters attending were Jackie Bertram, Anna Otto, Claudia Libby, Sandy Gillaland, Annita Welborn, Joanne Phillips, Anna Janto, Vernell Bradley and Bettsye Rose.
