MANCHESTER – For months, quilters in states such as Oklahoma, New Mexico and Wisconsin have been carefully stitching for New Hampshire veterans.

They've been working to make 100 personalized quilts to be presented to local veterans at the Manchester Veterans Affairs Medical Center's Veterans Day program on Sunday at the Radisson Hotel Ballroom. Although some were crafted in New Hampshire, many of the quilts were made by volunteers for the Quilts of Valor Foundation. The organization employs the stitching abilities of people across the country to create patriotic and personalized quilts for men and women who have served in the military.

Sunday's presentation includes quilts made by people in 15 different states. Local quilters Vicki Lemire and Janet Dugre said in the three years they've been working with Quilts of Valor, they've received help from more than 39 states.

The quilts are given in a cloth case with a certificate. Sometimes the quilter includes a personalized note, thanking the soldier for his or her service.

Lemire and Dugre said when they started making quilts for veterans, they reached out to the Manchester VA Medical Center. In time, the number of veterans interested in a quilt grew, so Dugre asked for help from her fellow members in the Weare Quilting Guild. Still needing more, Lemire said, they went to Quilts of Valor.

For this year's event, Lemire and Dugre wanted to do something specifically for the men and women who have served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The women and other volunteers at the medical center sent more than 2,200 letters to people who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, inviting them to receive a quilt at Sunday's ceremony.

Displayed are some of the many quilts donated for the Manchester Veterans Affairs Medical Center's Veterans Day program Sunday at the Radisson. (MARK BOLTON)

"The prevailing attitude of our warriors is we don't deserve this," Lemire, who expected to get about five responses back, said. "We hit 50 RSVPs the first day."

Deborah Krinsky of the Manchester VA Medical Center said the group is also reaching out to recently discharged soldiers who have yet to enroll in the VA.

This year's Veterans Day ceremony will be at 2 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel, 700 Elm St.

Besides the quilt gifting ceremony, Maj. Gen. William N. Reddel, Adjutant General of the New Hampshire National Guard will give a keynote address. Reddel, who took his position in May, has a three-decade long military career and previously commanded the 157th Aircraft Generation Squadron and the 133rd Air Refueling Squadron.

The ceremony will include a tribute to New Hampshire's soldiers who have died in service during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Krinsky said families of these fallen soldiers donated pictures that will be featured in a slideshow displayed on a large screen in the ballroom.

In previous years, this ceremony was held at the medical center, but because of repairs being done to the kitchen, the room where the event is usually held is unavailable. To make sure the veterans who live at the VA's community living center have a chance to participate in an event, the medical center will be hosting an open house on Wednesday, Nov. 11, from 2 to 4 p.m., in the Granite State Room. Anyone who wishes to stop by, say hello or thank the veterans who live at the center are invited, said Krinsky.

The event will feature refreshments and music from the band, the Rent Party Players, who regularly volunteer to entertain the residents.