FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2011
As part of the Blue Star Museums Program, New Mexico’s 14 state-run museums and historic monuments will once again offer free admission to active duty military personnel and their families during the summer months.
“For the second year New Mexico will be joining museums across the country to honor the women and men who serve in the military, and their families, by offering free admission at our museums and monuments all summer long,” said Governor Susan Martinez. “I encourage all active duty military and families in our state to visit some of New Mexico’s finest cultural treasures this summer.”
The National Endowment for the Arts created the Blue Star Museums program in 2010 to honor our active duty military members and their families. More than 1,000 museums across America have signed on to the program for summer 2011 and will be offering free admission from Memorial Day, May 30 through Labor Day, September 5.
“Many of our state museums and monuments already offer special free admission days for veterans,” said Cultural Affairs Secretary Veronica Gonzales. “By participation in the Blue Star Program, we see a wonderful, additional benefit for active military and their families. This is another step toward promoting the educational value of our museums to our citizens while honoring those who serve our country.”
The National Endowment for the Arts plans to announce all participating museums on or before Memorial Day as the Blue Star Museums Honor Roll. Other museums that have already announced their involvement include the Art Institute of Chicago, Dallas Museum of Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Blue Star Families is a nonprofit organization that works to support America’s military families from all branches of service.
Those state-operated museums and monuments in New Mexico that will be participating in the Blue Star Museums program are (click on each museum name for more information):
Museum of International Folk Art
Museum of Indian Arts & Culture
New Mexico History Museum/Palace of the Governors
Museum of Natural History & Science
National Hispanic Cultural Center
New Mexico Museum of Space History
New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum
And six historic monuments statewide – Jemez, Coronado, Lincoln, the Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner, El Camino Real International Heritage Center and Fort Selden.
