NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The National WWII Museum honors all of our nation’s veterans and celebrates their service this Veterans Day through an engaging series of commemorative programs on November 11 and 12. The Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony and related programming will pay tribute to veterans past, present and future while highlighting their incredible stories of service. With the exception of the Victory Belles show and Victory Ball, all Veterans Day events are free and open to the public. Special thanks to AARP Louisiana and Navy Federal Credit Union for generously sponsoring the Museum’s 2021 Veterans Day programming.
On Veterans Day, all veterans, regardless of conflict era, will receive a free Museum Campus Pass to tour the exhibit galleries. Complimentary admission is for the Museum only; ticket purchase is required for “Beyond All Boundaries” ($7) and “Final Mission: USS Tang Submarine Experience” ($7). WWII veterans receive free admission every day to the Museum’s exhibit galleries, “Beyond All Boundaries,” and “Final Mission.”
NOTE: Free admission is for servicemembers only and does not include family or friends. If you have any ticketing questions, please visit the Guest Services desk.
Schedule of events and registration information for Veterans Day, Thursday, November 11:
10:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Musical Performance by the Preservation Hall All-Stars
On-site at US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center
Preservation Hall is a storied French Quarter music venue founded in 1961 to protect, preserve and perpetuate the spirit of traditional New Orleans Jazz. Master musicians from Preservation Hall will perform 1940s-era music to welcome guests attending the Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony.
11:00 a.m.–12 p.m.
Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony
On-site at US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center and Livestreaming online
The Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony, jointly hosted by The National WWII Museum and the Mayor’s Military Advisory Committee, will honor our nation’s veterans and celebrate the unique qualities of the American spirit demonstrated through their service. This year’s ceremony will highlight the significance of wartime correspondence among veterans and their loved ones, with special guest Linda Hope sharing correspondence between a G.I. and Bob Hope: her father and a legendary entertainer who dedicated his life to bringing laughter to US troops at home and abroad. The ceremony will conclude with a special announcement about the Museum’s future plans to continue sharing the inspiring stories of the WWII generation in innovative ways.
12:00 p.m.–12:30 p.m.
Musical Performance by the Preservation Hall All-Stars
On-site at US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center
Preservation Hall All-Stars will perform wartime musical selections in celebration of all generations of US servicemembers.
12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Knit Your Bit: Scarf Distribution to Veterans
On-site at US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center
Museum staff will distribute free Knit Your Bit scarves to veterans of all eras. Learn more about the Museum’s Knit Your Bit program as it celebrates its 15th anniversary year.
2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
The Victory Belles Veterans Day Performance
On-site at BB’s Stage Door Canteen
Tickets are $15 for general public; free tickets are available for veterans through the Bob & Dolores Hope Tickets for Troops Fund. The Victory Belles vocal trio will perform the music of the 1940s. Click here to learn more about the performance and reserve tickets.
5:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Meet the Author: “Dear Bob…: Bob Hope’s Wartime Correspondence with the G.I.s of World War II”
On-site at US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center (5:00 p.m. Reception, 6:00 p.m. Program)
Livestreaming online (6 p.m. CT Program)
Author Martha Bolton will discuss “Dear Bob…” with co-author Linda Hope, daughter of Bob Hope and Chair/CEO of the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation, and the Museum’s Kim Guise, Senior Curator & Director of Curatorial Affairs. Click here to learn more about the event and to register to attend in person or online.
Continue celebrating with the Museum on Friday, November 12:
7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
Victory Ball Presented by Ray and Jessica Brandt Family Foundation with support from Henry and Karen Coaxum and Bob and Sheryl Merrick
The 2021 Victory Ball will be a lavish reception featuring cocktails and culinary creations by The American Sector Restaurant & Bar, live music, entertainment and dancing, as well as unlimited access to the Museum’s pavilions and exhibit galleries. Major General James E. Livingston, Medal of Honor recipient, is serving as Honorary Chair and will give brief remarks during the evening’s salute to veterans and servicemembers. Tickets begin at $50 with all proceeds benefitting the Museum’s preservation efforts and public programming. Visit victory-ball.org for more details and to purchase tickets.
Where: The National WWII Museum
945 Magazine Street, New Orleans
Website: www.nationalww2museum.org
COVID-19 Event Protocols:
Per City of New Orleans requirements, proof of COVID-19 vaccination (at least one dose) or a negative COVID-19 PCR test (taken within 72 hours) is required for entry to all Veterans Day events (applicable to all guests 12 years of age and older) as well as the Museum’s food and beverage outlets (including American Sector Restaurant & Bar and Jeri Nims Soda Shop), BB’s Stage Door Canteen shows, private rentals and indoor public events. Face masks are required inside the Museum at all times except for when visitors are actively eating or drinking. For more information, please visit https://www.nationalww2museum.org/know-before-you-go.
