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Haggin Museum Participates In Blue Star Program
Blue Star

Haggin Museum of Stockton will once again be participating in the Blue Star Museums initiative. Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and participating museums across America offering free admission to the nation’s currently serving military personnel and their families.

The 2021 program began on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 15, 2021 and will run through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021. Armed Forces Day was established in 1949 for citizens to come together and thank military members for their patriotic service. Military can find the list of participating museums at https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/blue-star-museums.

“We are grateful for the many organizations that have signed up for the Blue Star Museums program this summer, demonstrating strength and resiliency on the heels of a very challenging period for the arts sector,” said Ann Eilers, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “We are pleased to collaborate with Blue Star Families and the Department of Defense on this initiative, and hopeful it will provide the opportunity for military families to engage together at museums while strengthening ties to their community.”

Participation in Blue Star Museums is entirely voluntary. By registering, museums express their appreciation for the nation’s military and their families, while acknowledging the hardships that come with that service. Blue Star Museums include children’s museums, art, science, and history museums, zoos, gardens, lighthouses, and more. Military families can plan their summer move or vacation around visits to Blue Star Museums and explore new places in their community with outings to local Blue Star Museums. There is no limit to how many museums a family can visit during the summer.

“After a year filled with uncertainties, we are thrilled to launch the 2021 Blue Star Museums program. The impact that this program has on our members is tremendous and something they look forward to each year,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO Blue Star Families. “It is wonderful to offer military families the opportunity to explore the arts with their loved ones and create lasting memories.”

Blue Star Museums began in an effort to improve the quality of life for active-duty military families, especially focusing on the approximately two million children who have had at least one parent deployed since 2001. The program offers families a chance to visit museums this summer when many will have limited resources and time together.

The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard as well as Active Duty and Reservists, National Guardsman (regardless of status), U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned 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), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum. Visit https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/blue-star-museums for a complete list of participating organizations.

Follow Blue Star Museums on Twitter and Instagram @NEAarts, BlueStarFamily, #bluestarmuseums.

Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Visit https://www.arts.gov/ to learn more.

The National Endowment for the Arts also has the following link for frequently Asked Questions https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/blue-star-museums/frequently-asked-questions

Blue Star Families is the nation’s largest grass-roots military family support organization, with a mission to support military families to improve military readiness. Its distinctive approach builds stronger communities around military families through knowledge and programs that address the unique needs of those who serve. For more information, visit https://bluestarfam.org/.

Haggin Museum is a nonprofit art and history museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is in Victory Park at 1201 N. Pershing Ave., Stockton. The museum has reopened to the public at 25 percent of capacity in compliance with the COVID-19 guideline. The museum’s current hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and first and third Thursdays from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors (ages 65 and older), $5 for students and youth (ages 10-17), and free for children under 10, museum members, and on the first Saturday of each month. For more information call 209-940-6300 or visit www.hagginmuseum.org.