NEW ORLEANS – The National WWII Museum will celebrate Armed Forces Day on Saturday, May 16, with a day of special events honoring the men and women who serve in every branch of the US military and their families.
Oath of Enlistment Ceremony | 10 a.m.
New recruits from across the military will publicly take the Oath of Enlistment during a special ceremony. Representing all branches of the military, enlistees will stand before family, friends and community members to pledge their service to the nation.
Armed Forces Day Commemoration | 11 a.m.
Presented in partnership with the Mayor’s Military Advisory Committee, this ceremony will honor past and present members of all six branches of the US military: the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force and Space Force. The commemoration will feature remarks from USMC Major General David Mize (Ret.), Chairman of the Mayor’s Military Advisory Committee (MMAC); New Orleans Deputy Mayor Kevin Ferguson; and Major General Justen Swanson, Commanding General of the 377th Theater Sustainment Command. During this program, the MMAC will also present its 2026 Community Service Awards to servicemembers who have gone above and beyond to selflessly serve the communities they live and work in.
Blue Star Museums Kickoff Cookout | 12 p.m.
Veterans, current military personnel and their families are invited to enjoy a cookout-style lunch and family-friendly activities to kick off this year’s Blue Star Museums program.
Additionally, the museum will have displays and activities from local military installations.
All veterans are admitted free to the museum galleries on Armed Forces Day. Complimentary admission is for the museum only; ticket purchase is required for Beyond All Boundaries and the Freedom Theater experience.
Current servicemembers and their families can also enjoy free admission to the museum thanks to the Blue Star Museums program, which continues through Labor Day. Learn more about the program here.
This event is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services [Grant No. MA-257854-OMS-25].
WHEN: Saturday, May 16, at 10 a.m.
WHERE: The National WWII Museum
US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center
945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130