Today@Sam Article
Sam Houston Memorial Museum To Offer Free Admission To Military Personnel
May 17, 2023
SHSU Media Contact: Mikah Boyd
By Megan Buro
The Sam Houston Memorial Museum & Republic of Texas Presidential Library announced it will join museums nationwide in the Blue Star Museums initiative, a program that provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and their families this summer. The 2023 program will begin on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20, 2023, and end on Labor Day, Monday, September 4, 2023. Find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.
Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and participating museums across America.
“Participating in Blue Star Museums is a way for the museum to give back to the men and women who are serving our country and their families,” said Megan Buro, marketing manager at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum. “This is an opportunity for the families to get to spend some time together making memories.”
Blue Star Museums include children’s museums, art, science and history museums, zoos, gardens, lighthouses and more, and hail from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The current list of participating museums will continue to develop over the summer as organizations are welcome to register to be a Blue Star Museum throughout the summer.
“We thank the 2023 Blue Star Museums who invite military personnel and their families to experience the many wonders they have to offer, whether it’s a glimpse into the past, an encounter with awe-inspiring art or a moment of discovery,” said Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. “The Sam Houston Memorial Museum & Republic of Texas Presidential Library is helping to enrich the lives of military families and build meaningful connections between our nation’s military and their local community.”
The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military—Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy and Space Force, members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), DD Form 1173-1 ID card or the Next Generation Uniformed Services (Real) ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.
About the Sam Houston Memorial Museum
The Sam Houston Memorial Museum is part of Sam Houston State University and is dedicated to preserving the memory of Sam Houston (1793-1863) and his times. A soldier, statesman, politician, and the only man to serve as governor of two states, Sam Houston led the fight for Texas’ independence. He then served as President of the Republic of Texas, United States Senator, and Governor of Texas. The Sam Houston Memorial Museum complex is located on the site of the property of General Sam and Margaret Houston and includes the Memorial Museum, the Woodland Home built by Sam and Margaret Houston, the Steamboat House in which Sam Houston died in 1863, and other period buildings. For more information on museum events, hours, and exhibits, visit samhoustonmemorialmuseum.com.
About the National Endowment for the Arts
Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the Arts Endowment supports arts learning, affirms, and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. To learn more, visit arts.gov.
About Blue Star Families
BlueStar Families (BSF) is the nation’s largest chapter-based military and veteran family support organization. Its research-driven approach fosters strong communities with a focus on human-centered design and innovative solutions. Since its founding in 2009, BSF has delivered millions of dollars in benefits and impacted more than 1.5 million people each year.
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