Fritz Hager, ABM Executive Director
Antique Boat Museum is one of more than
1,800 museums across America to offer complimentary admission to military
personnel and their families
in collaboration with the National
Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and the Department of Defense
CLAYTON,
New York (May 21, 2013) – The Antique Boat Museum (ABM), North America’s
premier freshwater nautical museum based in Clayton, New York, announced today
that it has again joined forces with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue
Star Families, and the Department of Defense in an effort to provide active
military personnel and their families with complimentary museum admission
through the Blue Star Museums initiative in 2013.
The
Blue Star Museums initiative provides active United States military personnel
and up to five (5) additional guests with complimentary admission to the
ABM. The ABM will also provide free admission in 2013 to retired United
States military personnel and a discounted rate to any spouse visiting with
them. In addition, any active Canadian military personnel will receive one (1)
free admission in 2013.
Proper
military identification is required. Offer is not valid for the 2013 Antique
Boat Show & Auction or ticketed events during non-museum hours. However,
this offer is valid for the 3rd annual Concours d’Elegance Classic
Car Show on July 13.
“We
are pleased to join such an extensive list of institutions across the country
and show our thanks to the men and women who serve us,” explained Fritz Hager,
ABM Executive Director. “In addition to the outstanding Blue Star Museums
program, the ABM is pleased to extend our offer to retired United States
military personnel and active Canadian military personnel. Plus, our offer will
exceed the national program by being in place through the conclusion of our
operating calendar this coming December 20.”
“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.”
“Blue
Star Museums is something that service members and their families look forward
to every year and we are thrilled with the continued growth of the program,”
said Blue Star Families CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet. “Through this distinctive
collaboration between Blue Star Families, the National Endowment for the Arts
and more than 1,800 museums across the United States, service members and their
families can connect with our national treasures with this unparalleled
opportunity to visit some of the country’s finest museums for free.”
This
year, ABM joins more than 1,800 (and counting) museums in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa which will take part in
the initiative, including more than 450 new museums.
About
Blue Star Museums
BlueStar Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue
Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 1,800 museums across
America. The program runs from Memorial Day, May 27, 2013 through Labor Day,
September 2, 2013.
The
free admission program is available to any bearer of a Geneva Convention
common access card (CAC), a DD Form 1173 ID card, or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card,
which includes active duty U.S. military - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines,
Coast Guard, as well as members of the National Guard and Reserve, U.S. Public
Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps - and up to five family
members. Some special or limited-time museum exhibits may not be included in
this free admission program. For questions on particular exhibits or museums,
please contact the museum directly. To find out which museums are
participating, visit www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.
The site includes a list of participating museums and a map to help with visit
planning.
This
is the latest NEA program to bring quality arts programs to the military,
veterans, and their families. Other NEA programs for the military have included
the NEA/Walter Reed Healing Arts Partnership; Great American Voices Military
Base Tour; and Shakespeare in American Communities Military Base Tour. 4
About
Antique Boat Museum
Located on the St. Lawrence
River in the 1000 Islands region of upstate New York, the Antique Boat Museum
features a collection of over 300 antique and classic boats among thousands of
recreational boating artifacts. The Museum will host its 49th annual
Antique Boat Show & Auction, the longest running antique boat show in North
America, on August 2-4, 2013. For more information please visit the Museum’s
website at ABM.org.
About
Blue Star Families
BlueStar 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
TheNational 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 arts.gov.
