The American Helicopter Museum and Education Center (AHMEC) will join over 2,000 museums around the country to honor currently-serving United States military personnel and their families with free admission beginning Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20, through Labor Day, Monday, September 4. The initiative, entitled Blue Star Museums, is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and Blue Star Families (BSF), in collaboration with the Department of Defense.
“AHMEC recognizes the amazing work of our service men and women every day with free admission. That we can extend this to include their families is truly an honor,” stated Paul Kahan, AHMEC’s Executive Director. “We are thrilled to be part of this fantastic program alongside so many other fine institutions to show our gratitude to our military personnel and their families for their service, sacrifices, and courage.”
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, National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationCommissioned Officer 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 participating Blue Star Museums.
BSF is the nation’s largest chapter-based military and veteran family support organization. Since its founding in 2009, BSF has delivered millions of dollars in benefits and impacted more than 1.5 million people each year.
The NEA, established by Congress in 1965, is the independent federal agency whose funding and support through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, promotes equal access to the arts in every community across America.
See AHMEC’s website at www.americanhelicopter.museum or the NEA’s website at www.arts.gov/initiatives/blue-star-museums for more information.
The American Helicopter Museum and Education Center, located at 1220 American Boulevard, West Chester, is the nation’s premier aviation museum devoted exclusively to helicopters. Established in 1996, the nonprofit organization collects, restores, and displays rotary-wing aircraft, including over 35 civilian and military helicopters, autogyros, and convertiplanes.
This press release was prepared and distributed by the American Helicopter Museum and Educational Center.
