Each month, the Museum invites you to get to know the staff supporting our pillars to Honor, Connect, Inspire and Educate. Meet Billy King, our Maintenance Technician. Q: What is your favorite place in the Museum and why? A: My favorite place is the Memorial Grove. I like being outdoors and, in the summer, when the fountain is running it is a great place to relax and reflect.  Q: What are three words that best describe you? A: Curious, Passionate and Loyal.  Q: We feature an #NVMMReads recommendation every month, what is a book that you think everyone should have on their “must-read ..read more

Oscar Goes to the Vet is the story of a young mouse and his friends who support one another and show they care through their words of kindness and actions. With April being the Month of the Military Child, this book is a great reminder of the importance of friendship. According to the Department of Defense, on average military children and their families move every two the three years. That means leaving established friend groups and starting over somewhere new. Written by Sam Baker, a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran who served during World War II, this book is dedicated to a friend Sam met later i ..read more

On March 20, 2003, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) began with preemptive airstrikes on former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s presidential palace and selected military targets. The initial assault was followed by approximately 67,700 “boots on the ground” with an additional 15,000 Navy personnel on ships in the region.  Stories of Inspiring Women During OIF, American women made history by participating in combat on an unprecedented scale. From March 2003 to December 2011, nearly 300,000 women served across both OIF and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Photo courtesy of U.S. Army ..read more

On March 13, 1942, the U.S. Army initiated its groundbreaking War Dog Program, marking a historic milestone in integrating dogs into the Armed Forces. Today we celebrate their contributions on K9 Veterans Day. Join us in commemorating the bravery and dedication of K9s in the military. A Look Back at K9s in the Military Before the War Dog program was established, military working dogs bravely fought beside service members. During the Civil War, Jack and Sallie served alongside their fellow soldiers and helped raise their regiments morale. Sergeant Stubby was the official mascot of the 102nd I ..read more

In honor of Women’s History Month and our yearlong theme centered around World War II, we recommend The Fearless Flights of Hazel Ying Lee by Julie Leung with illustrations by Julie Kwon. This is a great book for young readers interested in learning about the remarkable story of Hazel Ying Lee, the first Chinese American woman to join the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). The Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 led to the creation of the WASP the following year. With men being sent overseas to fight, women were needed to test planes straight off the assembly lines and del ..read more

Friends, I am profoundly grateful for the support you have provided for the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. It has been my great honor to serve as the NVMM’s Founding President and CEO since its opening in 2018, so I wanted you to be among the first to know that I am announcing my retirement, effective May 15, 2024. The news release below will be shared with the media later today. It was important to me to personally reach out to you with this news. I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished over these first five years, and I know the future is bright for this place of honor ..read more

Step back in time to the tumultuous era of World War II, where brave B-17 navigators soared through the skies, their eyes fixed on the horizon, guiding their crew safely through the treacherous clouds. Among these courageous individuals was Jon Schueler, a navigator turned artist whose experiences in the war would shape his artistic vision for years to come. Before you experience our special exhibition, Lost Man Blues: Jon Schueler – Art and War, take a look inside the crew of a B-17 and Schueler’s role as a navigator. A Look Inside a B-17 Being a bomber crew member during World War II was a ..read more

Tuskegee Airman Thomas Newton began his military journey on January 31, 1946. He was assigned to the 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group and stationed at Lockbourne Army Air Base, Columbus, Ohio. As a Squadron Supply Clerk and Mechanic, he rose to the rank of Sergeant. After service, he worked his way up in the New York City Postal Service and held a supervisory role for over 17 years. Listen as he shares the lessons he learned while serving in the military. EXPLORE MORE STORIES OF BLACK VETERANS The post Celebrating Black History: Sgt. Thomas W. Newton appeared first on National Ve ..read more

Each month, the Museum invites you to get to know the staff supporting our pillars to Honor, Connect, Inspire and Educate. Meet Sue Llende, our Database Manager. Q: What is your favorite place in the Museum and why? A: My favorite place is the Reconnecting alcove. As a civilian, the Veteran story is not mine to tell, however I can become part of that story when I enter Veterans lives as they transition to civilian life. Veteran Service Organizations, or VSO’s, are everywhere (my personal favorite is Team RWB!) and exist to support Veterans in a variety of ways. If you feel you “missed the boa ..read more

     Ashley Bryan was a renowned artist, storyteller, and writer. He shares his experience as a Black soldier in a segregated U.S. Army through his autobiography, Infinite Hope: A Black Artist’s Journey from World War II to Peace. As a draftee at the age of 19, Bryan provides a unique perspective of D-Day and World War II. He recounts that at the end of the war, Black units were not returned home as quickly as their White counterparts. Since entire units were not sent home together, Black soldiers often did not receive the jubilant welcome that was experienced by many othe ..read more