ABM continues to be one of more than 2,000
museums across America to offer free admission to military personnel and their
families this summer.
CLAYTON,
New York (May 20, 2014) – The Antique Boat Museum (ABM), North America’s
premier freshwater nautical museum based in Clayton, NY, along with River Hospital of Alexandria Bay, NY, have joined together to form a partnership that
will span the 2014 summer calendar and be done in support of our armed forces.
Beginning
May 20, the Antique Boat Museum will feature a new exhibition located in the
Haxall Building, which will run through the early fall, relating to the River
Community Wellness Program (RCWP) based at River Hospital.
The
River Community Wellness Program (RCWP) at River Hospital provides intensive
outpatient behavioral health services for active duty military personnel
stationed at Fort Drum. RCWP provides continuity of care for soldiers
transitioning from an inpatient stay. It also serves as an intensive
intervention option for mental health services locally to reduce potential
admissions of service members to an inpatient level of care, focusing instead
on building coping skills and supports in the community. It is the only program
of its kind in the United States. The program keeps military members close to home
while they are healing and learning to cope, using multiple forms of therapies
such as Cognitive Processing Therapy, Group and Individual Therapy, Movement
Therapy, Peer to Peer Therapy, Imaginal and In Vivo Exposure Therapy, as well
as Psychiatry and Medication Management.
Through
this new partnership, the artwork and creative writing that has been done in
recent years as part of Creative Arts Therapy will go on display to the public
at the ABM.
“Having
the ability to extend our assets to River Hospital will allow for more people
to be touched, taught, and further understand the hardships that our military
personnel go through to defend our freedom. It is truly an honor that the
Museum will house the work of our soldiers and provide a new avenue for the
general public to get a better understanding of the effects our soldiers
endure,” Frederick H. Hager, Executive Director. “We look forward to working
closely with Ben Moore and his staff throughout the summer and into the future
in an effort to bring awareness to this essential program.”
In
addition to the exhibition, participants in the RCWP will also be given the
opportunity to explore the region’s beauty by climbing aboard one of the
Museum’s in-water fleet boats to cruise the islands for relaxation and
meditation time, as required by the program.
“We
are very pleased to partner with the Antique Boat Museum to promote awareness
of the vital PTSD treatment program at River Hospital for the active duty
service members of our community,” stated Ben Moore III, River Hospital CEO.
“More importantly, this partnership will also significantly expand the
opportunities for the soldiers in our program to experience the beauty and
serenity of the North Country through the activities that the Antique Boat
Museum will be providing as part of their experience with us.”
“We
are most appreciative for the generosity and support of the Antique Boat
Museum Board of Directors, contributors, management and staff that has made
this opportunity a reality for those who have served us so well.”
Along
with the RCWP partnership, the ABM announced today that it will again serve as
one of more than 2,000 Blue Star Museums across the country, providing
complimentary admission to active military and their immediate families.
Also,
River Hospital will now serve as the Official Sponsor of the Armed Forces at
the Museum throughout the 2014 season, underwriting those admission fees, as
well as the admission fees of all active and retired military members during
the upcoming 50th annual Antique Boat Show to be held August 1-3.
About
Antique Boat Museum
The
ABM, now open daily 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., is home to North America’s largest
antique boat collection with more than 300 boats and over 1,000 boating
artifacts. In addition, the Museum is also host of the longest running antique
boat show, which will celebrate its 50th year this August 1-3, and
is known as the birthplace of the antique raceboat regatta, which will run
August 8-10. For more information, please visit the Museum’s website at abm.org.
About
River Hospital
River Hospital was designated as a
Critical Access Hospital in 2003. Holding 15 acute care and 9 swing beds, River
Hospital also operates an active Emergency Room. Primary Medical Care,
Behavioral Health, Laboratory, Physical Therapy, Respiratory Therapy,
Ambulatory Surgery and Radiology services are available. For additional
information, visit our website at www.riverhospital.org
or call 315-482-2511.
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 2,000 museums across
America to offer free admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel
including National Guard and Reserve and their families. The program will run
at the ABM throughout the entire 2014 season. Nationally, the program is run
Memorial Day through Labor Day.
The
free admission program is available to any bearer of a Geneva Convention common
access card (CAC), a DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), 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 or events may not be included in this
free admission program. For questions on particular exhibits or museums, please
contact the museum directly. To find participating museums and plan your trip,
visit http://arts.gov/national/blue-star-museums .
