Several Memorial Day events are planned at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri.
There is free admission to the museum on Memorial Day weekend for veterans and active-duty military personnel. The cost is half-price for general admission.
There will be a formal public program at 10 a.m. on Monday, Memorial Day, with remarks by U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo.; Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Sly James; a keynote address by Jon McBride, former astronaut and space shuttle commander; and musical performances by the USAF of Mid-America Hot Brass Band; operatic baritone John Brancy; and pianist Peter Dugan.
A new special exhibition featuring works of art by World War I soldiers has opened at the museum.
More than 20 vintage military vehicles and an iconic helicopter will be featured Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day weekend from the Military Vehicle Preservation Association. This includes vehicles from World War I, World War II, the Korean War and Operation Desert Storm and MVPA members will be available to answer questions about their collection.
The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter No. 243 will provide a Bell UH-1 Iroquois “Huey” helicopter for display from Friday to Monday. People of all walks of life are invited and encouraged to show their support for military families by signing a mobility-equipped 2018 Ford F-150 Raptor truck that will eventually be donated to a veteran courtesy of Wounded Warrior Family Support.
Additionally, the museum invites the public to “find your World War I connection” and discover how the Great War affected their families through records, photographs and more with a variety of programs throughout Memorial Day weekend.
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, visitors can discover their families’ connections to the Great War. This is presented in partnership with the Midwest Genealogy Center of Mid-Continent Public Library. For a complete list of Memorial Day Weekend activities, visit theworldwar.org/memorialday.