Five members of the Orton family were honored for their service in the United States Armed Forces with handcrafted quilts from a local Quilts of Valor chapter at the Berthoud Fire Department on Monday night.

The quilts are a civilian award for active duty service members and veterans made by local volunteers across the country, said member Beverly Mendicello during the ceremony. She added that the quilts are given as an appreciation for someone’s service, sacrifice and to welcome them home.

“We want you to use the quilt, and we dare you to wear it out,” Mendicello said during the ceremony.

Richard Orton served in the U.S. Navy from 1952-1955 and then three of his sons went on to serve, too. Timothy N. Orton served in the U.S. Army from 1974-1981 and Chris Orton served from 1976-1979. Richard Orton had another son, also named Richard, who served in the U.S. Army, but passed away in 2021. Son of Timothy N. Orton, Timothy M. Orton served in the U.S. Navy from 2006-2019. The son of the late Richard Orton, Alex Orton, was also honored for his service in the U.S. Army from 2007-2022.

Three generations of the Orton family are presented with Quilts of Valor for their service Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Berthoud. From left they are U.S. Army veteran Alex Orton, U.S. Navy veteran Tim Orton Jr., U.S. Army veteran Tim Orton, U.S. Navy veteran Richard Orton, and U.S. Army veteran Chris Orton. (Jenny Sparks/Loveland Reporter-Herald)

“It’s really, really special, and some of them didn’t feel deserving, and I said, ‘Wait a minute, let’s talk about that,’” Debbie Orton, a Quilts of Valor member and wife to the late Richard Orton, said. “This is really a big deal.”

When Debbie Orton heard that her sister, Beverly Mendicello, joined the Sew it Seams Lakewood chapter of Quilts of Valor, she knew she wanted to get involved and honor her family, she said. She has now been part of the group for six months.

“This family is so veteran strong, and there’s many other veterans in this family, aunts and uncles and grandparents, so I’m a real advocate for veterans,” Debbie Orton said.

She added that receiving a quilt from a Valor member is a “really big deal,” not just because of the 60-plus hours each member puts into making the quilt, but also because of the presentation ceremony, which consists of multiple parts, including an honorary wrapping of the veteran in the quilt in front of their family and friends.

The whole room clapped for 91-year-old Richard Orton as he made his way to the front of the room to accept his quilt.

“It’s a special day for me,” Richard Orton said during his speech. “Grateful for your work and with that, I think I’d like to sit down.”

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Elaine Sawin, right, and Debbie Orton, both with Quilts of Valor, write the names of recipients inside quilts while preparing to honor 5 membes of the Orton family with the quilts for their service Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Berthoud. (Jenny Sparks/Loveland Reporter-Herald)

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Members of the Orton family clap as U.S. Army veteran Alex Orton returns to his seat after being wrapped in the quilt he was given by the Quilts of Valor for his service Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Berthoud. Quilts of Valor presented three generations of Orton’s with quilts for their service during the ceremony. From left clapping are Donna Orton, Richard Orton, Tim Orton and Chris Orton. (Jenny Sparks/Loveland Reporter-Herald)

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Three generations of the Orton family are wrapped in the Quilts of Valor they were given for their service Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Berthoud. From left they are U.S. Army veteran Alex Orton, U.S. Navy veteran Tim Orton Jr., U.S. Army veteran Tim Orton, U.S. Navy veteran Richard Orton, and U.S. Army veteran Chris Orton. (Jenny Sparks/Loveland Reporter-Herald)

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Tammy Sadler, left, and Bitsy Cohen with Quilts of Valor present a quilt to u.S. Army veteran Chris Orton for his service Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Berthoud. Three generations of Orton’s were honored with quilts during the ceremony. (Jenny Sparks/Loveland Reporter-Herald)

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Elaine Sawin, right, and Debbie Orton, both with Quilts of Valor, write the names of recipients inside quilts while preparing to honor 5 membes of the Orton family with the quilts for their service Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Berthoud. (Jenny Sparks/Loveland Reporter-Herald)

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