In the few years she's served our country, Christine C. Emswiler has made a big impact. The 2022 Donegal High School graduate, now an Army corporal, was honored for her service with a Quilt of Valor presented by the Red Rose Quilters Guild in a ceremony organized in partnership with members of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 809 on the square in Maytown last month.

More than 100 people came out for the ceremony, which was a surprise to Emswiler, home for a brief leave from duty.

"The Red Rose Quilters Guild honored her with a quilt for her outstanding service. She served in nine foreign countries in three years," said Sara Gutshall of the American Legion Auxiliary 809. "She is so deserving of this honor, and we want to thank her for her service."

While living locally, Emswiler demonstrated an early commitment to community service and impact. She received the American Legion Award in 2018 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Mount Joy Post 5752 Founders Award in 2022. While a student at Donegal, she was a member of the field hockey team that won the state championship in 2018, and she was inducted into the National Honor Society in 2021.

She achieved other local honors, including service as a Poppy Princess in Bainbridge, and she was a Girl Scout for 13 years, earning both her Bronze and Silver awards.

"She has done a lot of local community service," Gutshall shared. "She planted flowers at the square in Maytown for years. She also placed flowers on veterans' graves on Memorial Day, and she was a member of Maytown Reformed UCC Church."

Emswiler joined the Army in June of 2022, entering as a private first class. Now a combat medic, she has served in countries including Slovenia, Hungary and Germany. In 2023, she made Army history by being part of the 10th Mountain Division in Operation Northern Forest, entering a port previously unused by the U.S. military. While on this mission, she was the only senior medic to be trained in air evacuation using a Skedco, a product used by military personnel for rescue operations.

In August of 2024, she was promoted to corporal and received an Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM), awarded to service members who distinguish themselves through heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.

In March of 2025, she arrived back stateside to Louisiana, where she served with Cobra Company before joining Army headquarters company, where she is now in charge of field litter ambulances.

The Red Rose Quilters Guild actively participates in the Quilts of Valor Foundation (QOVF) program, awarding handmade quilts to service members and veterans touched by war. The guild members create the quilts, which are specifically sized and labeled according to QOVF guidelines, and present them as tokens of appreciation to military members for their service and sacrifice. Along with the presentation of the quilt, members of the American Legion Riders from Elizabethtown, Mount Joy and Marietta honored Emswiler at the ceremony.

"Sometimes you don't truly realize the impact you have on people. Coming from such a small town, everyone knows everyone," Emswiler said. "And so coming home and seeing all these faces that I haven't seen in a while, it truly means a lot, and it brings me great joy and a smile to my face to see everyone again."

Following the ceremony, Emswiler returned to Louisiana to complete more medic training prior to her next deployment.