Former Palatine High School History Teacher Honored with Quilt of Valor

A former Palatine High School History teacher and D211 administrator received an honorable surprise honor on Monday, May 6, from several of his former students from the PHS Class of 1957, and the Gazebo Quilters of Huntley.

Burton L. Showers, 87, of Palatine, fondly known as “Sarge”, was presented with a 'Quilt of Valor' at Emmett’s Ale House, 110 N. Brockway St., during what he thought was a lunch gathering with seven students he taught U.S. History to at Palatine High School.

“It’s a great thing, I was very surprised – this is something special,” Showers said.

The Quilts of Valor organization has been a national grassroots community service effort since 2003.

Quilters from all over the country craft Quilts of Valor, with the goal of showing appreciation and gratitude to veterans who have seen combat and/or been wounded while serving the United States of America.

The quilts themselves - which take close to 20 hours and six people to make - are lap-sized [4.5 feet by 5.5 feet] and made by a quilt-topper (the piecer) and quilted by a longarmer.

Showers’ quilt was made by piecer, Mary Bywalee of Lake in the Hills, and Bobbie Deletzke of Huntley, the longarmer, who quilted it. Women from the Huntley Quilts of Valor workshop all worked together to put the finishing touches on it.

Once created, the quilt is then bound, washed, labeled and wrapped in a presentation case, to ultimately be awarded to veterans. 

To date, 84,436 have been presented to veterans all around the country.

Showers story of service began in the early 1940's.

He was drafted in 1943 and served until 1946 in World War II, where he directly served under Supreme Commander of Allied Forces, General Douglas MacArthur.

After he returned from service, Showers graduated from Iowa State Teachers College, and in 1950, was hired as a U.S. and World History teacher at Palatine High School. He taught for 13 years, and was then hired as Director of Student Activities for the township high school district by then District 211 superintendent Gerald A. McElroy.

Once he retired in 1983, Showers became involved in a number of veterans organizations.

“Three years ago I went to see the honor flags in Washington D.C., I cried for three days-being veterans, they treated us just gorgeous,” Showers said.

Receiving the quilt, and understanding the gratitude being shown to him for his service, Showers reflected on his experience in the armed forces, along with others he served with.

“Sixty-six years ago, we resented it [being drafted into the armed forces], now, I’m so grateful for the experience, it’s been such a blessing,” Showers said.

Janet Meyer, who was one of Showers’ former PHS students at the lunch, now lives in Huntley, and is a member of the Gazebo Quilters of Huntley. After a reunion in December, 2012, Meyer, along with other students of Showers’-including Palatine resident Maxine Eck-decided that their beloved teacher should be recognized for his service to the country.

If you know a combat veteran who deserves recognition for his or her service in the armed forces, applications are available at the Quilts of Valor website.

For more information, visit www.qovf.org.