Medina woman selected for national quilt honoring America’s 250th

A Medina woman will play a special role in the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration after her quilt block was selected for inclusion in “The Great American Birthday Quilt/Williamsburg 250.”

Beth Johnson, known to some as Elizabeth Dodd Shoulberg Johnson, recently learned her submission will be part of the commemorative quilt to be unveiled in Williamsburg, Virginia. She has also been invited to speak at the quilt reveal April 11.

The nationwide project invites participants to create quilt blocks that reflect America’s story, with the finished quilt to be displayed at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center.

According to the official invitation, the project aims to bring people together “one stitch at a time” and create a tribute that can be admired for generations.

Johnson’s piece, centered on the themes of family, history and freedom, is deeply personal. She said her inspiration dates back to 1973, when she discovered a box of fabric in her parents’ attic in Lake Bluff, Illinois. The materials had belonged to her grandmother and were intended for a “Grandmother’s Fan” quilt.

The discovery sparked Johnson’s lifelong love of quilting and a connection to her grandmother, Matje Ella Dodd (Phillips), whose fabric scraps were used in Johnson’s submission.

“My quilt square submittal is made from some of Grandma’s very own scraps that I discovered in 1973,” Johnson wrote.

Johnson said her grandmother’s family history also ties into the nation’s founding. Her ancestors, Daniel Dodd and Parmenas Dodd, were patriots in the Revolutionary War.

Johnson’s participation also coincides with her own milestone year. On July 4, she will mark her 80th birthday as the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

She said the moment offers an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s history and honor the contributions of generations of Americans.

Johnson, a Medina resident, was encouraged to enter the project by her daughter, Kristen Weight.

Her selection and invitation to speak mark a meaningful honor for both Johnson and her family’s legacy, which is now part of a national tribute celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.