NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER SALUTES THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE U.S. ARMED FORCES DURING MOVING VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION
FREE admission for veterans and active military personnel
Photo courtesy of National Constitution Center
WHO: Visitors of all ages
wHAT: Can honor the dedication and sacrifices of our nation’s servicemen and women through a variety of special activities against the backdrop of the Center’s new WWII-era exhibition, Fighting for Democracy: Who is the “We” in “We the People”?.
WHERE: National Constitution Center
525 Arch Street
Independence Mall
Philadelphia, PA 19106
wHEN: Veterans Day – Friday, November 11, 2011
9:15 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
DETAILS: Flag Raising Ceremony, 9:15 a.m.
The Center’s Veterans Day Celebration will begin with a moving flag raising ceremony on the front lawn.
Demonstrations and Activities, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Children and their families can participate in military muster drills, flag-folding demonstrations, soldier protocol workshops, and more. Visitors also can write letters to soldiers serving overseas and visit information tables from veterans’ service organizations from across the country. In addition, guests can make patriotic crafts such as star wreaths and American flags.
“Their Right to Fight”Show, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Visitors can join in the interactive “Their Right to Fight” show, which highlights the incredible stories of individuals who served in segregated branches of the military during World War II, including Navajo Code Talkers, Tuskegee Airmen, Women Air Force Service Pilots, and the 442 Infantry Division, a unit comprised entirely of Japanese American soldiers.
Gallery Theater Series, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
The Center will showcase theatrical performances from its popular Gallery Theater Series that highlight members of the military throughout history. “She Went to War,” a piece that accompanied the Center’s 2009 exhibition, America I AM: The African American Imprint, tells the story of an African American woman who served in World War II. “Through Their Eyes,” which accompanied the 2010 exhibition, Art of the American Soldier, is told from the point of view of a combat artist from the Vietnam War.
Wreath Laying Ceremony, 11:00 a.m.
Visitors are invited to participate in a moment of silence and wreath laying ceremony in homage to our nation’s servicemen and women, featuring the Drexel University Color Guard, a performance of “Taps” by the Bugle Corps, and a performance by the 28th Division Band.
Veterans Panel Discussion, 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Local veterans, including Ben Lichtman of Cherry Hill, NJ, a WWII soldier who was at Pearl Harbor, will join the Center to discuss their experiences in a special panel discussion in the F.M. Kirby Auditorium.
Soldier Talks, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Veterans will share their experiences in the Armed Forces and on the home front. Speakers include local Vietnam veteran John Campbell, author of They Were Ours: Gloucester County’s Loss in Vietnam.
Giant Flag Folding Demonstration, 12:30 p.m.
Visitors are invited to participate in a flag folding demonstration on the Grand Hall Overlook using the Center’s giant 20×30 ft. flag.
Flag Lowering Ceremony, 4:00 p.m.
The Center’s Veterans Day Celebration will conclude with a flag lowering ceremony on the Center’s front lawn.
Fighting for Democracy: Who is the “We” in “We the People”?, 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
All visitors will have access to the Center’s new Fighting for Democracy exhibition. Paying homage to ordinary Americans with extraordinary legacies, Fighting for Democracy immerses visitors in the real-life experiences of a diverse group of seven Americans who bravely fought for equality, freedom and justice overseas and at home during the World War II era. To bring these compelling stories to life, the Center has paired a must-see, multimedia exhibition from the Japanese American National Museum with an original, world premiere theatrical production. This innovative exhibit-theater hybrid connects powerfully to current debates about immigration, citizenship and civil rights in America.
The preceding was a press released published by the National Constitution Center.
