Local Woman Honoring A World War II Hero

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Caledonia, Miss. (WCBI) — Independence Day is when we not only celebrate our nation’s birthday, but we also give thanks for those who sacrificed to give America another year, our veterans. One local woman is using her hobby to honor a very special serviceman.

On the barns in Caledonia, you may have noticed the colorful square blocks that hang from the top.

They are called barn quilts, and the artist behind them, Rita Williams, is an avid quilter and painter.

She’s, so far, the only person in Lowndes County to make barn quilts.

“It blends the two things that I love together…”, says Williams, “…so I’m having fun with it and the people in the community seem to really, they’re enjoying it, they’re “when’s the next project, what’re you doing next.”

That next project, which happens to be her tenth, may be the most special of them all. A barn quilt for World War II veteran Bradford Freeman.

Freeman was a member of the Army’s 101st Airborne, one of war’s most known companies.

A humble man who is as sweet as can be could tell you one fascinating story after another about is time in the service.

“When we jumped in France it was a night jump and the moon was shining…”, recalls Freeman, “…that was the thing about that day, they scattered us. There was a big cloud they said, and we went through this black cloud. The pilots dispersed and they dropped us no where close to where we were supposed to, it was a blessing. Where we were supposed to jump, [the enemy] had it surrounded…they could flood it and they also had it zeroed in.”

Freeman’s time with the 101st Airborne has been depicted in the popular books and movies Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, and A Bridge Too Far.

Freeman even recalls having buddies that knew the actual Private Ryan.

“One of [the Ryan brothers, and who happens to be the one Saving Private Ryan was based off of] was still in the 101st. I didn’t know him but some buddies knew him and he was in the 502 and some of the boys that came over when he came over knew him.”

Rita Williams and Mr. Williams are connected through Williams’ husband, and he is related to Freeman through his mother. Freeman was one of his mother’s first cousins.

“I put a lot of thought into the pattern I wanted to do for him…”, says Williams, “…and I wanted it to be as patriotic as possible. He’s just done so much for all of us and for me and my family and for this country.”

Williams’ quilt, along with another made by an artist from the Columbus Air Force Base, are going to be hung on Freeman’s double-sided barn doors.

“A barn quilt is a small way to say thank you. I mean you can’t say thank you enough for what he’s done for all of us”, said Williams.

Freeman also served for the post office for thirty two years before retiring.

He turns 91 in September.