MISSISSIPPI MUSEUMS PARTICIPATE IN BLUE STAR FAMILY PROGRAM

Cochran Commends Six Mississippi Museums for Outreach to Military Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today commended the launch of Blue Star Museums, a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts involving six Mississippi museums that will offer free admission to military personnel and their families this summer.

The six Mississippi museums have joined the NEA and the Blue Star Families organization to make the exhibits and programs open to military families.  In all, more than 700 museums nationwide will offer free admission through Labor Day 2010 to all active duty military personnel, National Guard and Reserve members and up to five immediate family members.

“I am pleased that Mississippi museums are welcoming military personnel and their families this summer.  The Blue Star Museum program represents one way a community can show its appreciation for the sacrifices made by those in the Armed Forces and their families.  It will also serve to bring more attention to these museums that highlight Mississippi’s history and culture,” Cochran said.  

Participating museums in Mississippi include:

             “There have always been wonderful examples of partnerships between museums and military installations, but the scale of this gift from the museum communities to military families is thrilling,” said Blue Star Families Chairman Kathy Roth-Douquet. Blue Star Families is a national, non-partisan, non-profit network of military families.
           
            More information about the program may be found on the following websites: