National Eagle Center Offers Free Summer Admission to Active-Duty Military Families
Wabasha, MN – This summer the National Eagle Center is once again recognizing active-duty military families as a Blue Star Museum. Active-duty military families will receive complimentary admission May 18th through September 2nd.
2019 marks the National Eagle Center’s fourth year participating in the Blue Star Museum program. Over 200 Blue Star Family members visited during the summer of 2017.
Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums across America that offer free admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families.
“We are happy to continue our participation”, said Ed Hahn, Marketing Manager at the National Eagle Center. “As a Blue Star Museum, we are able to connect military families with our national symbol and live eagle ambassadors. It’s a wonderful program.”
“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to celebrate the tenth summer of collaborating with Blue Star Families, Department of Defense, and especially the more than 2,000 museums across our nation that make this program possible, “ said Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “Participating organizations are providing wonderful opportunities for military families to share a memorable experience together this summer.”
This year’s participating organizations include fine art, science, history, and children’s museums, as well as zoos, aquariums, gardens, and more. Museums are welcome to sign up for Blue Star Museums throughout the summer at arts.gov.
“We've seen the tremendous impact the Blue Star Museums program brings to our military families, and we're thrilled to be celebrating a decade of support,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, chief executive officer of Blue Star Families. “Not only are museums fun to explore but are also great for making memories and strengthening military families as a whole.”
The free admission program is available to any bearer of a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), a DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card, which includes active duty U.S. military - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, as well as members of the National Guard and Reserve, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps - and up to five family members. The program also provides families an opportunity to enjoy the nation's cultural heritage and learn more about their new communities after a military move. The complete list of participating museums is available at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.
Blue Star Families is a national, nonprofit network of military spouses, children, parents and friends, as well as service members, veterans and civilians, dedicated to supporting, connecting and empowering military families. Visit bluestarfam.org for more information.
The National Eagle Center is a landmark interpretive center on the banks of the Mississippi River in Wabasha, MN celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2019. Offering wild eagle viewing and live eagle programs daily, the National Eagle Center connects people with eagles in nature, history, and culture. For more information about the National Eagle Center, visit nationaleaglecenter.org.
###