National Museum Of The Army To Host Memorial Day Weekend Events

FORT BELVOIR, VA — The National Museum of the United States Army will be open to the public on Memorial Day weekend, with special activities and film screenings.

Located in a 185,000 square-foot facility on an 84-acre site at Fort Belvoir just off Fairfax County Parkway, the museum officially opened in November 2020. The museum is the first in the nation to tell the comprehensive history of the U.S. Army.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year marks the first time the museum will be open to the public on Memorial Day.

Over Memorial Day weekend, the museum and its nonprofit partner, The Army Historical Foundation, will host several special events, including:

• Poppy flower-making activity, which will give visitors the opportunity to learn about the symbolism of the poppy on this holiday. Activity runs May 27-30 during museum hours. Free to museum visitors.
• Screening of the documentary “Sunken Roads: Three Generations After D-Day,” which follows a group of WWII veterans returning to Normandy for the 70th anniversary of D-Day. Screenings of the 90-minute documentary are free with admission. Show times are May 27, 10 a.m. (followed by Q&A with filmmakers); May 28, 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. (Q&A with filmmakers follows 10 a.m. showing); May 29, 10 a.m., 2 p.m. (Q&A with filmmakers follows 2 p.m. showing); and May 29, 2 p.m. (followed by Q&A with filmmakers).
• Memorial Day Remembrance and Moment of Silence will take place in the museum lobby and include a playing of taps. The moment of silence will take place on May 30 at 10 a.m. The museum will also pause for a National Moment of Silence at 3 p.m.

On Memorial Day weekend, the museum will let families experience Operation Safe Passage, a simulated humanitarian mission where participants learn geography, science, technology, engineering and math to respond to an earthquake. This free opportunity is usually only available to groups. Advance registration is required. Families reserving museum admission tickets for May 28-30, between 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., will be offered the chance to sign-up.

All weekend, the museum will also host a hands-on showcase, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., giving visitors an up-close look at Army uniforms and equipment from different eras of Army history. The Army Historical Foundation Book Sale of new and used military books will also take place May 27-29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The museum is open every day of the year except Dec. 25. Free timed-entry tickets are required and available by request through the museum's website at theNMUSA.org.

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