The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will thank military veterans for their service to the country by offering them free admission on Veterans Day.
The special day will also feature a performance by a military band, the Airlifter Brass, and a memorial flame burning outside the museum.
"President Lincoln wrote that we should give ‘honor to the soldier and the sailor everywhere who bears his country’s cause.’ The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is proud to do its small part in giving that honor,” said Christina Shutt, the ALPLM’s executive director. "We hope everyone who visits us that day will reflect on the sacrifices made by America’s veterans.”
Military veterans and active-duty personnel who want to take advantage of free admission on Nov. 11 should bring some form of military ID.
The Airlifter Brass, which performs 1-2 p.m., is part of the Mid-America Air Force Band at Scott Air Force Base. With the traditional instrumentation of two trumpets, French horn, trombone and tuba plus percussion, the ensemble is known for its versatility and outstanding musicianship. Each Airlifter Brass program is thoughtfully planned for a blend of inspiration and entertainment.
The memorial flame outside the museum features the emblems of America’s military branches and quotes from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address: "… that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.”
The mission of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is to inspire civic engagement through the diverse lens of Illinois history and sharing with the world the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. We pursue this mission through a combination of rigorous scholarship and high-tech showmanship built on the bedrock of the ALPLM’s unparalleled collection of historical materials – some 13 million items from all eras of Illinois history.