Ionia County VFW honors 'Big Ernie'

IONIA -- Korean War veteran Ernest "Big Ernie" Thomas, a native of Greenville who has lived on Vincent Street in Belding since 1961, was honored by the Ionia County VFW on Monday afternoon with the presentation of a quilt and pillowcase that were handmade by the members of the VFW Auxiliary. The Harmony Quilters, a group of nearly a dozen members of the VFW Auxiliary, were personally responsible for crafting Big Ernie's new quilt. They were Martha Bormann, Linda Dingerson, Lu Dowsett, Ann Fedewa, Carolyn Fox, Missy Kauffman, Teresa Krieger, Gwen O'Mara, Janie Rush, Carole Schrauben and Stella Wilcox. "This quilt is an expression of gratitude meant to thank and comfort you," O'Mara said upon presenting Big Ernie with his new quilt Monday at his home in Belding. "We honor you for leaving all you hold dear to serve, whether in time of crisis or time of peace. This quilt of valor unequivocally says thank you for your service, sacrifice and valor in serving our nation." Pam Schwallier, a local real estate agent and Big Ernie's sister-in-law, attended the quilt presentation on Monday. Schwallier said that Big Ernie himself wasn't up to an interview ("he's pretty much sedentary"), but she recalled that the 96-year-old served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was stationed overseas during that conflict. "Every year, the VFW Auxiliary makes a quilt in honor of local veterans of foreign wars who are still living," Schwallier explained. "It's not based on their age or where their service was. They actually drew a name out of a hat, and Big Ernie's name was drawn."