Veterans honored for service by local quilters’ guild

Published 12:10 am Friday, February 20, 2026

SALISBURY — During a special presentation, members of the Salisbury-Rowan Quilters’ Guild, which meets on the first Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. at the Rufty-Holmes Senior Center, awarded quilts to the veterans group which also meets at the local senior center.

The special event was held on the morning of Feb. 12 at the center as the 11 quilts were given. Jackie Bancroft serves as chair of the guild. Serving as the facilitator of the veterans at the center is Chandra Cummings with the Charlotte Vet Center, and Chauncey McLeod is director of the Charlotte Vet Center.

The veterans who were honored were called to come forward to receive their quilt. The names of the veterans, along with the branch they served with and times of service, are as follows:

• Al Thibeault, a sergeant in the U.S. Army with the 101st Airborne Division serving in Vietnam from 1968-69.
• Carlton Chisom, a first sergeant with the U.S. Army, artillery division, having served for 32 years.
• John McCullem, a sergeant in the U.S. Marines and Army reserves for 18 years serving in Vietnam from 1966-69.
• James Faircloth, staff sergeant in the U.S. Army, medical. He served in Vietnam.
• Richard Hill, who served in the U.S. Army, 101st Airborne doing reconnaissance. He served in Vietnam from 1969-70.
• Richard Lowder, who served from 1967-71 with the U.S. Marine Corps as a rifle platoon commander.
• Jesus Rivera, who served in the U.S. Air Force and received an Air Force Commendation Medal. He served in Vietnam from 1965-66. He joined the Air Force Reserves in 1979 and retired in 2004, serving during Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
• Carlos Rivera, a Lt. Colonel, who served for 38-½ years. He was in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne. He served in Vietnam from 1967-68. He also served as a New York City police officer with the K-9 unit working the 1993 and 9/11 bombings and also served as a civilian police officer in Iraq.
• Bonnie Jones, marketing and media manager for Rufty-Holmes Senior Center, noted that Jesus and Carlos are brothers who served in the military, but they were honored at the same time.

She added Carlos has written some poetry as well, adding that she has several of them, one focusing on the topic of 9/11 and the other on Vietnam.

During the event, thanks were extended to the recipients for their service and sacrifice for their country, as well as to the families for their sacrifice.

Jones said that this group of quilters is constantly making quilts for various groups, including hospice and they collected items last year for those in Western North. They also made blankets, hats, scarves and gloves.

“They all have servant hearts and are looking for the next way to bless someone,” said Jones.