The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City, has joined museums nationwide in the Blue Star Museums initiative, a program that provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and their families during the summer.
The program began on Armed Forces Day (May 18) and will end on Labor Day, Sept. 2.
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 the United States. Blue Star Families is in its 14th year of offering the program.
“We are honored to have the privilege of supporting our military families and taking part in this year’s Blue Star Museums program,” said Stephanie Bracknell Black, executive director of Pioneer Florida Museum, in a news release.
The initiative allows military members and their families, whether they are traveling or getting to know a new duty location by exploring what the community has to offer, added Maria Rosario Jackson, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, in the release.
In addition to the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, the Blue Star Museums program includes children’s museums, arts, science and history museums, zoos, gardens, lighthouses and more, from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The current list of participating museums will continue to grow over the summer and organizations are welcome to register online to be a Blue Star Museum, at https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/blue-star-museums/2024-registration.
The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the U.S. 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 Generational Uniformed Services (Real) ID card for entrance to a participating Blue Star Museum.
Published May 29, 2024
