The National Quilt Museum Honors Veterans Through Quilts, Service and Stories

PADUCAH , KY, UNITED STATES, October 30, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Quilts of Valor^® will present a public quilt presentation ceremony at The National Quilt Museum on Saturday, November 7, honoring veterans’ service and sacrifice. The museum will also offer free admission to all veterans and active service members on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11. Together, these observances recognize military service and the ways quilting brings people together through creativity, community and care for others.

The Quilts of Valor ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. on November 7 in the museum’s gallery. Open to the public with museum admission, the ceremony invites visitors to witness the presentation of handmade quilts recognizing veterans’ service and sacrifice. The Quilts of Valor Foundation is a national nonprofit whose volunteers create quilts to provide comfort and healing to service members and veterans touched by war.

On November 11, all veterans and active service members will receive free admission throughout the museum’s operating hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A Veteran’s Continuing Legacy of Service

For museum supporter and Army veteran Dave Smith, quilting has become a meaningful part of life after military service and another way to serve others.
Smith retired in July 2002 after 25 years of total military service, including 21 years in the U.S. Army. His wife had died from breast cancer just two months earlier. After completing his teaching certification, he moved from Ohio to North Carolina and became an Army JROTC instructor.

A friend’s wife introduced him to quilting and encouraged him to enroll in evening sampler classes, promising that another man would attend. When the five students arrived, Smith discovered he was the only man in the class. He thoroughly enjoyed the classes and still has that first sampler quilt.

“Working with patterns and designs, experimenting with colorways and selecting fabrics are my favorite aspects of quilting,” Smith said.

Smith has made 76 quilts, donated nine Quilts of Valor and contributed 15 quilts to disaster relief coordinated by his guild after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina in September 2024. He also values the friendships formed through fabric shopping, workshops and quilt shows.

Now living in Kentucky, Smith has extended his generosity to The National Quilt Museum’s Preservation Society, helping protect the museum’s collection and building for future generations. His story reflects the many ways veterans contribute to the quilting community as artists, volunteers and supporters.

Supporting Military Families Beyond Veterans Day

The museum also participates in the Blue Star Museums program, offering free summer admission to eligible currently serving military personnel, including National Guard and Reserve members, and up to five family members. In 2026, the program ran from Armed Forces Day, May 16, through Labor Day, September 7. The museum offers a regular discounted admission rate for military personnel and veterans as well.

Plan Your Visit

The National Quilt Museum is located at 215 Jefferson Street in downtown Paducah, Kentucky. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For visitor information, tickets and trip planning, visit quiltmuseum.org or call 270-442-8856. Learn more about the Quilts of Valor Foundation at qovf.org.

About The National Quilt Museum

The National Quilt Museum is America's premier quilt museum, having received National Designation by congressional declaration in 2008. The Museum collects and presents the finest work made by today's quilters in America and worldwide. It provides national-class cultural services to diverse communities, both near and far, through exhibitions, educational programs, support of artists, and tourism development. The Museum includes multiple galleries and an on-site gift shop.

Robin Malpass
The National Quilt Museum
+1 312-508-0228
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