Jessica Webb
editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com
Few alive today know what it was like to be a soldier in WWII. Arnold Price, who served in the Army, is one of them. Price was surrounded by family and friends for his 100th birthday on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Mountain View Manor in Bryson City. This special occasion was elevated by the presentation of a Quilt of Valor by Smoky Mountain Quilters.
The mission of Quilts of Valor Foundation is “to cover service members and Veterans touched by war with the comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.”
Numerous cameras were on Price as he accepted the quilt from local quilting club members Janet McDonald, Becky Painter and Margaret Varner. He was moved to tears as they wrapped the patriotic quilt around his arms.
As of April 30, the nonprofit organization has awarded 382,765 quilts to active service members or veterans since it was started by founder Catherine Roberts in 2003 when her son was deployed in Iraq. Each quilt is made to specific requirements including using patriotic patterns and limited to red, white and blue with some gold and grey.
“More than 35 people put this quilt together. Each block has a different pattern,” McDonald explained.
Oberia’s Fabric Store in Bryson City quilted the backing and Rosalind Ryan did the binding on the quilt that is 60 inches by 72 inches and has 30 blocks on it.
“It’s a big group effort,” McDonald said.
This quilt has a variety of patterns including log cabin, nine-patch, stars, friendship star, turn dash, heart, pinwheel courthouse steps, churn dash and Texas star.
“Every quilter has their own signature, their own way of doing stuff,” Varner said.
Price served alongside Audie Murphy, the most decorated combat soldier of WWII in the Army. Murphy went on to star in several Hollywood films including several Westerns and war films The Red Badge of Courage and To Hell and Back, his own story.
Price told the crowd Saturday that he was invited to a ceremony in Audie’s hometown recently but had regretfully to decline and said serving alongside the decorated soldier was “such and honor.”
“I was in his honor guard when he was given the Congressional Medal of Honor. He was representative of what we infantry soldiers all when through,” Price recalled.
He then gave special thanks to Mountain View Manor Director Dennis Ramsey, who is a Navy veteran himself. He told Dennis, “Thank you for welcoming me to this home,” where he has lived for about a year since he moved from his place on Deep Creek.
“Thank you everybody, I love you all, thank you for coming out today,” Price said to the crowd of about 65 people.
The quilt presentation was followed by Patrick Moore singing God Bless the USA with more songs by chorus members of the church where Price attends.