Contact: Karis Erwin, National WWI Museum and Memorial, (816) 888-8122, kerwin@theworldwar.org
Free admission for Veterans/Active-Duty Military Personnel & Half-Price General Admission for the Public All Weekend
Highlights of Memorial Day Weekend
- Free General Admission for Veterans/Active-Duty Military and half-price general admission for the public during Memorial Day Weekend (Friday-Monday, May 27-30).
- AVTT Vietnam Traveling Wall — An 80 percent scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. that contains every name etched on the original memorial (Thursday, May 19-Monday, May 30).
- Memorial Day Ceremony — Free to the public, this annual ceremony will feature dignitaries and a keynote address from Lieutenant General Larry Jordan (Monday, May 30; 10 a.m.).
- Memorial Day Bell Tolling Ceremony — A bell-tolling ceremony, presentation of colors and wreath laying to remember the bell rung every day in Kansas City during World War I (Monday, May 30; Noon).
- “Walk of Honor” Brick Dedication and AVTT Vietnam Wall Closing Ceremony — Each Memorial Day, new bricks are dedicated to the Walk of Honor. This year’s ceremony will also serve as the closing ceremony for the AVTT Vietnam Traveling Wall (Monday, May 30; 2 p.m.).
- Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow — Visitors will have the opportunity to view this special exhibition, exploring the struggle for full citizenship and racial equality that unfolded after the Civil War, and leading into WWI.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National WWI Museum and Memorial serves as a fitting place to give honor and special recognize to the individuals who sacrificed their lives while serving their country.
Admission to the Museum and Memorial is free for veterans and active-duty military personnel, while general admission for the public is half-price all weekend (Friday-Monday, May 27-30).
The Museum and Memorial offers a wide variety of events during the weekend for people of all ages, including a free public ceremony at 10 a.m. on Memorial Day with local dignitaries and a keynote address from Lieutenant General Larry Jordan. Support for Memorial Day is provided by the Veterans United Home Loans, Jackson County of Missouri, Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund (NTDF) and Weather or Not.
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ACTIVITIES
AVTT VIETNAM TRAVELING WALL
When: Thursday, May 19 (6 p.m.) – Monday, May 30 (3 p.m.)
Where: Southeast Lawn at the National WWI Museum and Memorial
What: This May, the AVTT Traveling Vietnam Wall returns to the Southeast Lawn of the Museum and Memorial. An 80 percent scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., the wall measures nearly 400 feet long. The AVTT Traveling Vietnam Wall contains every name etched on the original memorial. Since its inception, hundreds of thousands of people across the U.S. have viewed the wall. New this year, AVTT also will display smaller tribute panels honoring American sacrifices in conflicts through the 20th and 21st centuries, including WWI and WWII, Korea, 9-11, Afghanistan and Iraq.
FLAGS OF FORGOTTEN SOLDIERS DISPLAY
When: All Day; Tuesday, May 17-Monday, May 30
Where: Walkway Terrace near Main Entrance at the National WWI Museum and Memorial
What: The Department of Veterans Affairs reports that every 72 minutes, a service member takes their own life. This moving display of 140 U.S. flags calls attention to the fact that 140 veterans are lost to suicide every week. FREE to the public.
HONORING SERVICE FLAG DISPLAY
When: All Day; Tuesday, May 17-Monday, May 30
Where: Mall and SE Lawn at the National WWI Museum and Memorial
What: These flags represent the involvement of U.S. military divisions in the WWI, WWII, Korean and Vietnam wars, as well as other more recent military conflicts. Unit colors were originally used to mark location through the smoke of battle. Not needed for that purpose since the Civil War, colors now have symbolic meaning embodying the history and heart of each unit. FREE to the public.
WORLD WAR I RESEARCH STATIONS
When: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Friday-Monday, May 27-30
Where: Outside Auditorium Lobby inside the National WWI Museum and Memorial
What: Find your connection to WWI during Memorial Day weekend through research stations at the Museum. With access to multiple databases including Fold3.com, Ancestry.com, the Museum and Memorial’s online collections database, the American Battlefield Monuments Commission and the National Archives, discover how the Great War affected your family through records, photographs and much more. FREE to the public.
VINTAGE MILITARY VEHICLE DISPLAY
When: TBD
Where: National WWI Museum and Memorial, Southeast Lawn
What: The Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) will display vintage military vehicles from World War I, World War II, Korean War and Operation Desert Storm. MVPA members will be available to answer questions about their collection. Availability subject to weather. FREE to the public.
VIETNAM ERA BELL UH-1 IROQUOIS “HUEY” HELICOPTER DISPLAY
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, May 19-Monday, May 30
Where: Rectangular Drive outside the National WWI Museum and Memorial
What: The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #243 will provide an iconic Bell UH-1 Iroquois “Huey” helicopter for people to climb aboard and inspect. FREE to the public.
MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY
When: 10-11 a.m.; Monday, May 30
Where: National WWI Museum and Memorial, Memorial Courtyard
What: A formal public program to include remarks from dignitaries and a keynote address from Lieutenant General Larry Jordan. ASL interpretation will be provided for the ceremony. FREE to the public.
MEMORIAL DAY BELL TOLLING CEREMONY
When: Noon; Monday, May 30
Where: National WWI Museum and Memorial, Memorial Courtyard
What: We commemorate those who made the ultimate sacrifice with a bell tolling ceremony featuring a presentation of colors, a wreath laying and a moving reading. It was also tolled 11 times at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1926 during the dedication ceremony of the Liberty Memorial and again on Nov. 11, 2018 to commemorate the centennial of the WWI armistice. FREE to the public.
WALK OF HONOR DEDICATION AND AVTT VIETNAM WALL CLOSING CEREMONY
When: 2 p.m.; Monday, May 30
Where: National WWI Museum and Memorial, Memorial Courtyard
What: New Walk of Honor granite bricks will be dedicated during a special ceremony. The Walk of Honor is divided into three sections: bricks dedicated solely to those who served in World War I; bricks dedicated to veterans of any military service; and bricks that honor civilian friends, family or organizations. This year’s ceremony will also serve as the closing ceremony for the AVTT Vietnam Traveling Wall. FREE to the public.
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND HOURS AND PARKING
The National WWI Museum and Memorial will be open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday-Sunday and from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Monday. Visitors are encouraged to allot additional time for parking during the weekend.
About the National WWI Museum and Memorial
The National WWI Museum and Memorial is America’s leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community. The Museum and Memorial holds the most comprehensive collection of World War I objects and documents in the world and is the second-oldest public museum dedicated to preserving the objects, history and experiences of the war. The Museum and Memorial takes visitors of all ages on an epic journey through a transformative period and shares deeply personal stories of courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice. Designated by Congress as America’s official World War I Museum and Memorial and located in downtown Kansas City, Mo., the National WWI Museum and Memorial inspires thought, dialogue and learning to make the experiences of the Great War era meaningful and relevant for present and future generations. To learn more, visit theworldwar.org.