The document provides information about the Blue Star Museums program, which offers free admission to over 900 participating museums nationwide for active duty military, National Guard and Reserve members, and their families from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The program aims to provide meaningful cultural experiences for military families and show appreciation from the nation's museums. It details participation numbers, quotes of appreciation from military families who have visited museums, and upcoming events to promote the program.

1. Blue Star Museums
Thursday, August 12, 2010

2. Blue Star Museums…
Free admission to museums for military personnel and their families*
From Memorial Day, May 31, 2010, through Labor Day, September 6, 2010
*The !ee 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 military (Army, Navy, Air Force,
Marines, Coast Guard), National Guard and Reserve members and up to five immediate family members.
Thursday, August 12, 2010

3. Blue Star Museums...
Over 900 museums
(and counting)
participating
nationwide
More contact
requesting to join*
every week!
* to join contact
bluestarmuseums@arts.gov or
Nicole Murray at 202-682-5578
Thursday, August 12, 2010

4. Blue Star Museums...
Reaches tens of thousands of families stationed all
across the US, and thousands have already enjoyed
the benefit of free admission to popular museums
that appreciate their service
Thursday, August 12, 2010

5. Blue Star Museums...
...offer quality family time, meaningful memories, and
extend tremendous appreciation for service from our
nation’s cultural centers, the museum community.
A letter Blue Star Families received !om FRG
leader Linda Fu&er a'er attending an event at
the Da&as Museum of Art:
“I cannot thank you enough for not only the
experience of a lifetime but a most memorable
Father's Day. . .The fact that you appreciate and
honor the military means so much to so many
people . . .Thank you seems so menial for so great
of a gi' but it is a& I have to offer. That and our
heartfelt thanks. Thank you !om us but also
!om others who don't quite know how to
vocalize their thanks. From our hearts to yours.
THANK YOU!”
Thursday, August 12, 2010

6. Blue Star Museums...
Military spouse Michelle Galvez wrote her thanks to Blue Star
Museums and Colonial Williamsburg, which gave her family a
special Memorial Day weekend
“We toured a& the houses and restored buildings,
sampled the authentic-to-the-period beverages at
the restored coffee house, learned to dance in a
parlor, picnicked on the grounds of the Governor's
Palace, wrote our names with a feather pen and
came to appreciate our history a bit more
(especia&y how they could have born the
Southern humidity in those days without A/C
and in a corset). A special touch was the
"Honoring Service" notation on our admission
badges. Several people stopped our family to thank
us for our service and sacrifice.”
Thursday, August 12, 2010

7. Blue Star Museums...
“This is a perfect opportunity for military families to enjoy the
culture and heritage our military members fight for a& year long.”
-- Kathy Roth-Douquet,
Chairman of Blue Star
Families
Blue Star Families with the docent at
the San Diego launch event.
Thursday, August 12, 2010

8. Blue Star Museums...
Our wonderful Honorary Committee:
Mrs. Deborah Mrs. E&en Roughead Mrs. Cheryl
Mu&en
McKinley
Mrs. Mary Murphy
Mrs. Sheila Casey
Mrs. Bonnie Amos
Mrs. Diane Jones
Mrs. Jackie Bolden
Mrs. Paula Roy
Mrs. Laura Stultz
Mrs. Sandee
Mrs. Liz Kent
Cartwright Mrs. Suzie Schwartz
Thursday, August 12, 2010

9. Blue Star Museums
We would like to thank you for your participation in Blue Star Museums!
On behalf of the families in America’s military services - in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps,
Air Force, Coast Guard and the National Guard and Reserve components, we, the Honorary
Committee for Blue Star Museums, thank and commend you for your excellent support of
our military families – service members, spouses, and children.
The Blue Star Museum program is tremendously meaningful as an expression of appreciation
from the nation’s cultural community to our military community.
Even more, your participation in the Blue Star Museum program brings the gift of our
cultural heritage to our families and gives families a wonderful way to spend time together
over the summer.
Please accept our sincere gratitude for your generous gesture, which honors and supports our
military families. Thank you.
Very Sincerely,
The Blue Star Families Blue Star Museums Honorary Committee
With additional appreciation from Blue Star Families:
Kathy Roth-Douquet, Chairman
Laura Dempsey, Vice Chairman
Mark Smith, Executive Director
Thursday, August 12, 2010

10. Blue Star Museums
July 8, 2010 - Chrysler Museum
Yesterday I packed up the family and we headed to a Blue Star Stephanie
Museums event hosted by the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Himel-
Nelson
Virginia. We joined Blue Star Families, Senator Mark Warner,
and her
Norfolk mayor Paul Fraim, Admiral Mark Boensel (Commander, sons.
Navy Region Mid-Atlantic), other local participating museums, and
many military families, all excited to see the museum and learn more
about the program, which offers free museum admission to military
families at participating museums this summer.
Speaking of the importance of supporting military families, Senator
Warner noted, “This is a nice way to demonstrate support
for our military personnel and their families, and I
congratulate the Chrysler Museum and all of the other
Virginia cultural sites that have stepped up to partner with
the Blue Star Museums program.”
Admiral Boensel indicated that, in providing programs like
this for military families, we are contributing to military
readiness. Is there really any greater thanks we could receive?
by Stephanie Himel-Nelson, the New Media Director for Blue Star Families. Speakers at Blue Star Museum event at The Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk,
VA. (L-R) BSF Executive Director, Mark Smith; Admiral Mark Boensel
She lives with her military family in Chesapeake, Virginia. (Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic); Senator Mark Warner (Va); Norfolk
mayor Paul Fraim; Chrysler Museum Director William Hennessy.
Thursday, August 12, 2010

11. Blue Star Museums
July 9, 2010 -- At the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston with Blue Star Families Sue
Hoppin and Lisa Ripa, their families, cast from Army Wives, and local and state officials:
Blue Star Families learn about local art. The Ripa family, who just said From L-R Army Wives cast member Terry Serpico, military spouse Lisa
goodbye to their father for his third deployment, get a morale boost Ripa, son Thomas Ripa, daughter Caroline Ripa, Garrett Hoppin, military
spouse Sue Hoppin, Army Wives cast member Brian McNamara
Thursday, August 12, 2010

12. Blue Star Museums
One of the most amazing exhibits was probably the miniature portraits. The intent was for
their loved ones to keep the pictures with them so that whenever they were separated they
would have a memento to remind them of home. As our tour guide noted, the closest modern
day comparison would have to be Facebook!
In addition to the great tour, one of the morning’s highlights was being joined by Brian
McNamara and Terry Serpico (to those of you who are Army Wives fans, General Michael
Holden and Lt Colonel Frank Sherwood respectively) from the Lifetime show, Army Wives. I
got a chance to interview both of them and learn more about their experiences working on
the show.
Mr. McNamara said that out of the many roles that he has played, it is definitely one of his
favorites due to the fact that he has the chance to channel his brother who is a retired Navy
captain. When asked how he prepares for his role, he merely rolled back his shoulders and
stood up a bit straighter, commenting that his authoritative posture is a big part of his
character.
Mr. Serpico likes to emulate his father who is a retired Army Colonel. When asked how he
gets into character once the cameras are rolling, he simply said that his father was a hard core Garret Hoppin (back) views the miniature
Army officer, so he plays his character the same way. exhibit with Tyler McNamara (center) and
Caroline Ripa (front).
Needless to say, I enjoyed my time at the Gibbes Museum and learned so much. Since the
Blue Star Museum program has over 850 participating museums, I will definitely be visiting
plenty more before the program ends Labor Day.
- Garrett Hoppin, writing about his experience at Blue Star Museum, Gibbes Museum of Art
Thursday, August 12, 2010

13. Blue Star Museums
"Blue Star Museums is an incredible way for
the museum community to thank the
military and their families. On Army Wives,
I’ve learned about the heavy demands on
military families, and it adds to my
appreciation of their service. When Blue
Star Families, National Endowment for the
Arts and the museums come together to
offer military families free admission it’s a
way for our American culture to show that
appreciation. It’s a great program, and I’m so
At the Gibbes Museum in Charleston, Tyler McNamara shakes Bret
Lott’s hand while father Brian McNamara and Terry Serpico watch glad to be able to endorse it and make sure
happily. Mr. Lott is the author of 12 books, on the faculty at College of
Charleston, and is a member of the National Council on the Arts. He is
everyone knows about it and heads to a
also a Blue Star Families dad. participating museum."
-- Brian McNamara, General Michael Holden,
on Army Wives.
Thursday, August 12, 2010

14. Blue Star Museums
Field Trips
We offered all of our chapters the chance to organize a field trip with our assistance at
any nearby Blue Star Museum -- we promised a special experience and members who
took advantage enjoyed that. They shared with us through stories and photos, such as
these from Crystal Cavalier, chapter leader, who visited Cape Fear Museum.
Thursday, August 12, 2010

15. Blue Star Museums
On August 2, 2010 in New Orleans at the Ogden
Museum during the National Guard Conference
One of our wonderful supporters, Mrs. Sheila Casey, as we& as
Congressman Steve Scalise, General Reddel, Sue Hoppin, and local
hostess Greta Perry came together for a wonderful event. A& of the
guests enjoyed an interesting tour by Chief Curator David Houston.
Thursday, August 12, 2010

16. Blue Star Museums
Museum of Modern Art, NYC
"You are what you share." via @museummodernart #milmoma
#blogher10
3:56 PM Aug 5th via TwitBird
TheShoppingMama
Kate, Shopping Mama
On August 5, 2010, digital
communication experts Victor
Samra and Becky Stokes shared
MoMA’s social media strategy with
military family bloggers, with
kudos to Blue Star Museums, and a
special curator lead tour of the
women’s art exhibits. The key word
of the day was, “Amazing.” And a
major Web site was inspired to
begin a Military Family channel.
Thursday, August 12, 2010

17. Blue Star Museums
Upcoming Events:
Art Contest - open to a& military children and teens through
September 12, 2010
August 18, 2010 - New Hampshire, with National Guard families,
elected officials, and the Department of Cultural Resources. At the
Currier in Manchester.
August 21, 2010 - Austin, with local military families and officials.
Concluding celebration - Washington, D.C., Fa&, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010

18. Blue Star Museums…
Brought to you by Blue Star Families, the National
Endowment for the Arts, and all of the
participating museums
Thursday, August 12, 2010

19. About Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families is a national, non-partisan, non-profit network of military families from all
ranks and services including guard and reserve, with a mission to support, connect and
empower military families. In addition to morale and empowerment programs, Blue Star
Families raises awareness of the challenges and strengths of military family life with civilian
community and leaders. Membership includes spouses, kids, parents, service members, veterans
and civilians.
Operation Appreciation is an initiative of Blue Star Families that seeks to connect military
families to the larger community. Blue Star Families 2009 annual survey shows that 94 percent
of military families feel that the larger community doesn't truly understand or appreciate the
sacrifices we make for the country. Through initiatives such as Blue Star Museums, Blue Star
Families provides avenues for the larger community to show that they do understand, in
meaningful ways that enrich the lives of military service members, spouses, children and
parents.
For more information, please visit www.BlueStarFam.org.
Contact: jpippert@bluestarfam.org or museums@bluestarfam.org
Thursday, August 12, 2010

20. About the NEA
The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting
excellence in the arts – both new and established – bringing the arts to all Americans,
and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an
independent agency of the federal government, the Arts Endowment is the largest
annual national funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural
areas, inner cities, and military bases.
For more information, please visit www.arts.gov.
Contact: Sa&y Gifford * 202-682-5606 * giffords@arts.gov
Thursday, August 12, 2010

21. Blue Star Museums
Additional Promotions
Full size New York Times advertisement, anonymously donated
July 1, 2010 Blue Star Families
launched the Kids and Teens
Art Contest, inspired by Blue
Star Museums
Museums proudly participate, and
often display promotional posters
at the ticket center.
Thursday, August 12, 2010

22. Press
(A sma& sampling of the daily press since launch)
May 23, 2010 May 23, 2010 May 25, 2010
600 museums offer military Blue Star program opens From remarks by First Lady Miche&e Obama
600 museums offer military families
families free admission - museums for the military - at Camp Pendleton on June 13, 2010:
free admission
Yahoo! News SignOnSanDiego.com “And I want organizations across the
Associated Press
The program, called Blue Chief Warrant Officer Tommy country to see the incredible difference
More than 600 museums
Star Museums, is being Fitzgerald couldn't stop beaming that community-based groups make here
nationwide are offering free
announced Monday in ... as he watched his children face in this area. . .There are local museums,
admission to military families all
off inside the Museum of like the San Diego Museum of Art, which
summer. . .
May 25, 2010 have joined with Blue Star Families, the
The program, called Blue Star Photographic Arts
Army Times National Endowment for the Arts, and
Museums, is being announced
600 museums free to troops, hundreds of museums across the country
Monday in... June 13, 2010
families - Army News, news from to offer free admission to families --
Iraq ... Press Herald
June 24, 2010 military families this summer.”
The Blue Star Museums program The Portland Museum of
'Blue Star Museums' help
is a partnership between the 600 Art is participating in the May 24, 2010
military families
museums Blue Star Museums Washington Post
Hilton Head Island Packet
Program, a partnership 600 museums offer free summer
The program is called
June 16, 2010 among Blue Star Families, admission to military
"Blue Star Museums" and
Wisconsin Rapids Tribune the National Endowment The project, Blue Star Museums, is a
is a partnership between
STEVENS POINT -- The for the Arts ... joint effort of the endowment and Blue
the National Endowment
Central Wisconsin Star Families ...
for the Arts, Blue Star
Children's Museum, in Families... June 8, 2010
Jun 23, 2010
CenterPoint MarketPlace in Culture : NPR
FOX 5 San Diego News
Stevens Point, is June 2, 2010 600 participating
Click on the link to find out what
participating in Blue Star Abilene Reporter-News museums are calling
museums are participating in the Blue
The Grace Museum, is a themselves the Blue Star
Museums... Star Museums Initiative
Blue Star Museum Museums. ...
Thursday, August 12, 2010

23. Press
(A sma& sampling of the daily press since launch)
Jul 09, 2010 July 09, 2010 July 9, 2010 July 12, 2010
Channel 5 News, ABC ABC News 4 MOAA Blue Star program sponsors
'Army Wives' star dishes on Army Wives Actors and Real Army Blue Star Museums art contest for military
military life, Charleston, Wives Tour Museum On Thursday MOAA Spouse children
politics Charleston, SC - Lisa Ripa's Husband, attended a celebration of Blue The Virginian-Pilot
CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) Army Major John Ripa was shipped to Star Museums; a program Blue Star Families has
- Most people know him as Lt. Iraq two weeks ago for a third tour. partnership between the launched an art contest for
Col. Frank Sherwood, the hard- "You go from a big family nonprofit organization Blue military children inspired by a
nosed officer on Lifetime's hit environment…you’re alone," she said. Star Families and the visit to a Blue Star Museum.
drama "Army Wives," and Terry But Friday that loneliness and concern National Endowment for the More than 850 museums
Serpico says the character he was put on the back burner for about Arts that provides free across America - including
plays is an extension of him and an hour, as she and her kids took a admission for military Colonial Williamsburg, the
his life growing up on an Army private tour of the Gibbes Museum of families to museums across Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
base. Art in Charleston. the country this summer. Museum and the
"You do need time away to get your
Contemporary Art Center of
mind away from worrying and things
Virginia - are offering free
like that," Ripa said
July 12, 2010 August, 2010 admission to military
Military Mom Talk Radio – A&E, Lifetime Network personnel and their families
Vivian Walker Greentree, newsletter this summer as part of the
guest. Discussed Blue Star July 8, 2010 Blue Star Museums Blue Star Museums program.
Families and Blue Star Nofolk WTKR Channel 3 The contest is open to
Museums. News military children ages 3 to 17,
Blue Star Families program according to a news release.
offers free museum admission
through the summer
Thursday, August 12, 2010