NMHM To Participate In "Blue Star Museums" Program This Summer To Show Appreciation For Active-Duty Service Members And Their Families
May 21, 2013, Silver Spring, Md.: For a third year, the National Museum of Health and Medicine is proud to announce that it is participating in the Blue Star Museums initiative over the summer. The program offers free admission to museums for all active-duty military service members, including Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, National Guard and Reserve members, and up to five family members from Memorial Day (May 27, 2013) through Labor Day (Sept. 2, 2013).
Blue Star Museums, which was first launched in the summer of 2010 to show appreciation to those who serve and their families, is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense (DoD) and museums across the country. This summer, more than 1,800 museums are participating in Blue Star Museums. Blue Star Families is a nonprofit organization that supports, connects and empowers military families.
"Blue Star Museums is a collaboration between the arts and military communities," said NEA Acting Chairman Joan Shigekawa. "Our work with Blue Star Families and with more than 1,800 museums ensures that we can reach out to military families and thank them for their service and sacrifice."
NMHM is celebrating its 151st anniversary at its home in Silver Spring, with exhibits that focus on advances in military medicine, the Civil War, the brain, anatomy and pathology, forensic identification and more. This summer, NMHM will have a number of programs that will focus on topics such as the Civil War, sports and anatomy, reconstructive plastic surgery in World War I, "quack medicine," and more.
For more information about Blue Star Museums and a full list of participating museums, visit http://www.bluestarfam.org/support/blue-star-arts/blue-star-museums.
About the National Museum of Health and Medicine
The National Museum of Health and Medicine, a Department of Defense museum established in 1862 as the Army Medical Museum, inspires interest in and promotes the understanding of medicine—past, present, and future—with a special emphasis on tri-service American military medicine. As a National Historic Landmark recognized for its ongoing value to the health of the military and to the nation, the Museum identifies, collects, and preserves important and unique resources to support a broad agenda of innovative exhibits, educational programs, and scientific, historical, and medical research. NMHM is located at 2500 Linden Lane, Silver Spring, MD 20910. For more information, visit www.medicalmuseum.mil or call (301) 319-3300.
About Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families is a national, nonprofit network of military families from all ranks and services, including guard and reserve, dedicated to supporting, connecting and empowering military families. With our partners, Blue Star Families hosts a robust array of morale and empowerment programs, including Books on Bases, Blue Star Museums, Operation Honor Corp, Blue Star Careers and Operation Appreciation. Blue Star Families also works directly with the Department of Defense and senior members of local, State and Federal government to bring the most important military family issues to light. Working in concert with fellow nonprofits, community advocates, and public officials, Blue Star Families raises awareness of the challenges and strengths of military family life and works to make military life more sustainable. Our worldwide membership includes military spouses, children, parents, and friends, as well as service members, veterans and civilians. To learn more about Blue Star Families, visit http://www.bluestarfam.org.
About the National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies and the philanthropic sector. To join the discussion on how art works, visit the NEA at http://www.arts.gov.
