What does summertime and museums have to do with military family support and distraction?
Everything.
This year marks the seventh year running that the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and Blue Star Families has worked with museums nationwide to offer free admission for active duty and Guard or Reserve families (sorry, retirees, this doesn't include you. Don't hate the messenger.) through the Blue Star Museums program.
More than 2,000 museums are included this year, officials said. Last year an estimated 840,000 military families took part in the program, and since the 2010 launch 3.2 million have used it, officials said.
“Blue Star Museums has grown into a nationally recognized program that service members and their families look forward to each year,” Kathy Roth-Douquet, Blue Star Families CEO said in a statement. “It helps bring our local military and civilian communities together, and offers families fun and enriching activities in their hometowns."
We particularly enjoy this program during PCS season. It gives us something to do on different pit-stops across the U.S. and, when we get to our new duty station, a great way to explore our new hometown. My family is currently in the middle of a move to the Anchorage area, and we'll definitely be exploring some of the Alaska museums when we arrive.
