1,600 Museums Around America to Give Free Admission to Military Families for the Summer

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden launched Joining Forces last year as a way to recognize, honor and support our troops and their families - and earlier today at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, I had the wonderful privilege of participating in an announcement that does just that.

Today Blue Star Families and the National Endowment for the Arts joined forces to announce the launch of Blue Star Museums - a collaboration with 1,600 museums across America that offers free admission to all active duty military personnel, including Reserve and National Guard, and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2012.

These 1,600 (and growing) museums are in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa. The complete list of participating museums is available at www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

Creel Brown, Captain, U.S. Army and daughter Riley at the Blue Star Museums launch event, 5/22/12 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

The timing is perfect - with so many military families beginning the "summer move season," this very special outreach from America's museums offers a wonderful and enriching opportunity for military families throughout the country. As Blue Star Family CEO Kathy Roth-Doquet put it “... we are happy provide an opportunity for our nation’s service members and their families to connect with our national treasures.”

Blue Star Museums is a wonderful example of America's gratitude for those who serve - enjoy the opportunity that these organizations have so graciously offered!

Learn more about Joining Forces initiative: Visit JoiningForces.gov, like Joining Forces on Facebook and follow @JoiningForces on Twitter.