By John Harlow
On June 9th, Marine Russ Miller was presented with a Quilt of Valor at the Myrtle Beach Café and Grill by the Myrtle Beach Shore Birds of the Quilt of Valor Foundation. Russ was proposed for the QOV by his Marine Corps League Detachment – The Great Pee Dee Devil Dogs. The QOVF began in 2003 to provide handmade quilts to Veterans who have been touched by war – www.qovf.org. Russ served as an infantry Marine in Vietnam and later as a drill instructor at Parris Island. After his discharge from the Marines, Russ worked as a commercial builder in Dillon. In later years, he succumbed to the effects of the chemical defoliant Agent Orange that had been used in the Vietnam War and he was classified by the VA as 100% disabled. He lives in the Mt. Calvary community.

Members of his Marine Corps League Detachment drove by RV to Myrtle Beach with Russ to attend a brunch for him and to participate in his QOV ceremony. Pictured helping to wrap Russ in his quilt are (Left) John Harlow and (Right) Frank Faulkner of his Marine Corps League Detachment. Wrapping the QOV recipient with his quilt is an important part of the ceremony that helps to demonstrate the comfort the QOV is intended to provide to Veterans touched by war.