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Quilts of Valor presented were presented to one veteran and to active-duty service members during a ceremony on March 10. From left to right, Debbie Bailey, presenter; Deacon (Marine Sgt.) Mike Breier, Sylvia Demaris, Quilter, Carlos Salinas, Air Force Active, Emilio Salinas, son, and Nicole Salinas, Airman, E-4, Air Force veteran.
DAYTON–A moment of joy for Deacon Mike Breier and the Salinas family as three received the Quilt of Valor on March 10. Debbie Bailey presented, on behalf of the Lewis Clark Quilts of Valor, three quilts made by Sylvia Demaris.
The first quilt presented was to Deacon Mike Breier, who was a Sergeant, E-5, in the Marine Corps. He served from 1964-1970, with two tours in Vietnam, 1965, and again in 1966. He deployed to Da Nang, Chu Lai, Quan Tri, Phu Bai and Van Tuon, where he took part in Operation Starlite. The second half of his military career, Sgt. Breier was a drill instructor. He earned two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star.
The other two quilts were given to husband and wife, Carlos and Nicole Salinas, Air Force.
Nicole Salinas entered service in 2003 and was an E-4 Senior Airman. She was deployed on special assignment as Hurricane Katrina relief in 2006 and temporarily assigned to Keesler Air Force Base to help restart their Cardiology and Pulmonary clinics. She was honorably discharged in 2009.
Carlos Salinas began his Air Force military service October 2004 deploying to various destinations four times: 2005, 2009, 2014, and 2016. He was Senior NCO of the quarter 2019 and 2020. Received the Dominance Outstanding Cyber Systems NCO of the Year for the Air Force in 2016; has multiple achievements, Meritorious Serve, and Accommodation Medals. He has had over three dozen temporary assignments across the world to support multiple Air Force missions. He is currently active duty, contemplating retirement in the near future.
Deacon Mike Breier officiated the Salina's wedding in 2009 and baptized their son, Emilio, in 2011.
The Quilt of Valor Foundation was started by Catherine Roberts in 2003 after her son was deployed to Iraq. The vision of this now nationally recognized organization out of a dream which showed a young soldier sitting on his bed exuding disappear. Then, with a quilt wrapped around him, his mood changed, healing him emotionally. Through the expression of this dream, volunteers began making quilts for active military service members as a way to wrap them in our appreciation for their dedication and sacrifice for our Country and its citizenry. Since 2003, hundreds of thousands of quilts have been sewn by volunteers and given to service members and retired veterans.
