National Veterans Memorial and Museum to Open October 27

[Columbus, Ohio] Honor. Connect. Inspire. Educate. These are the foundational pillars of the National Veterans Memorial and Museum (NVMM), an iconic cultural institution designed to celebrate the service and honor the sacrifice of our country’s Veterans.

The vision for NVMM, which officially received a federal designation in June 2018, was set forth by the late Senator John Glenn (1921-2016), a retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel, who served as the Founding Chairman of the Veterans Advisory Committee.

On Saturday, October 27, 2018, the dedication and grand opening of this 53,000 square-foot museum and 2.5 acre memorial grove will take place. The public is invited to the dedication, which will include veterans, military leaders, regalia and performances. NVMM sits in a premier location in downtown Columbus, Ohio and is expected to draw visitors from across the country given its central location.

Senator Glenn understood that careful preservation is important – not only of the names, dates and battles but also of the intimate memories, personal belongings and painful losses – because these were ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things by risking everything for their country.

In June of this year, Lieutenant General Michael Ferriter (U.S. Army, Retired) was announced as President and CEO of NVMM after a nationwide search. Since his appointment, Ferriter has been building a team to debut and manage the museum, which was named by Architectural Digest as one of the 12 most anticipated buildings of 2018. Former Secretary of State, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman and National Security Advisor General Colin Powell (U.S. Army, Retired) will serve as the Honorary Chair of the Board of Advisors of NVMM.

“This project was a labor of love for Senator Glenn and the veterans committee he convened to help make it a reality,” said Guy Worley, President and CEO of the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, developer of the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. “With the involvement of General Colin Powell at the board level and Lieutenant General Michael Ferriter serving in the role of CEO, we are confident that this institution will fulfill its mission of appropriately honoring the nearly 21 million veterans of the military while educating future generations of the role they played in protecting our freedom.”

More than $82 million has been raised, through private philanthropy and public partnerships, to fully fund the construction costs and provide the beginnings of an endowment for this organization. Lead donors of the project have included Abigail and Les Wexner, the State of Ohio and Franklin County, Ohio.

“The National Veterans Memorial and Museum is about people, both well-known and those known only to friends and family, who have provided the pillars of what this country is all about – founded in service and honored by sacrifice,” said Ferriter. “I believe the institution will be a national treasure and will become a pilgrimage site for millions of Veterans and their families.

I also believe that what lies within the walls of the museum is only the beginning of its impact. My vision is to share the stories of service and sacrifice with the country through digital learning, traveling exhibits and online content.”

General Powell first visited the museum in the fall of 2017, touring what was then a construction site. Powell commented, “I think it is extraordinary that this community has seen fit to develop this impressive tribute to all of the men and women in our armed forces who have honorably served and especially those who gave their lives. It’s important that we never forget their sacrifice.”

DEDICATION AND GRAND OPENING
On Saturday, October 27, 2018 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. the NVMM will host a dedication and grand opening ceremony. The ceremony will feature distinguished veterans whose stories are highlighted in the museum, military leadership and appearances or performances by men and women of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Reserves. General Colin Powell (U.S. Army, Retired) will deliver the keynote address. The public is encouraged to attend the dedication to celebrate the opening of this historic institution.

The museum, located at 300 W. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215, will open immediately after the dedication and will remain open until 9 p.m. that evening to allow as many guests as possible to experience the exhibits.
Details for the dedication will be updated here: www.nationalvmm.org.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL VETERANS MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM
With nearly 21 million living veterans throughout the United States, from our Greatest Generation to our recent heroes coming home from Afghanistan and Iraq and all who served in peace and war, the time for America to remember and to honor its veterans is now.

The National Veterans Memorial and Museum (NVMM) is neither a war memorial nor a military branch of service museum. NVMM will take visitors on a narrative journey telling individual stories and shared experiences of veterans throughout history. It will pay tribute to the sacrifices of servicemen and women and their families. History will be presented in a dynamic, participatory experience with photos, letters and personal effects, multi-media presentations, and interactive exhibits. Together, these elements will link our national story to the larger context of world events since our country’s earliest days, and will demonstrate the importance of individuals in shaping our history.

On June 21, 2018, The National Veterans Memorial and Museum Act, which designates the Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio, as the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, was signed into law by President Donald J. Trump. The bipartisan bill was initiated by Congressman Steve Stivers (U.S. House Ohio 15) and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (U.S. House Ohio 3) and unanimously passed the House of Representatives in November 2017. Senators Rob Portman (U.S. Senate Ohio) and Sherrod Brown (U.S. Senate Ohio) cosponsored the legislation in the Senate, which passed it on June 6, 2018.

A first-in-class team has been involved in the development of this cultural institution. The Columbus Downtown Development Corporation has served as project manager, raising the funds, leading the design, construction and opening efforts and managing a team of premier consultants, including Allied Works Architecture, Olin and Ralph Appelbaum Associates.

Construction began in December 2015, and the building is on schedule to open on October 27, 2018. While the opening of the museum is the first step, future plans for an educational online curriculum and an interactive, virtual tour experience will be key priorities moving forward.

Please visit www.nationalvmm.org to learn more about the National Veterans Memorial and Museum and to RSVP for the Dedication and Grand Opening Ceremonies.