Museum of the American Military Family & Learning Center

Museum of the American Military Family & Learning Center Celebrating the American Military Family's remarkable contributions. We tell YOUR Story! She wanted to use this platform from which to “tell their stories." Mrs.

Less than a month after we launched the website for the National Museum of the American Military Family, Mrs. Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden appeared on THE VIEW to tell the nation about “Joining Forces,” their initiative to call for national support to military families. The establishment of Joining Forces had been announced in the national press a day or two earlier when the President named G

eneral McChrystal (Ret) and the wife of retired General Erik Shinsecki as the chairs of Joining Forces. On THE VIEW (Monday, April 18, 2011), the First Lady reminded viewers that most Americans have no direct contact with a military family, and she hoped through Joining Forces the general public would become aware of the special challenges and needs of military families. Dr. Biden said that most military families blend into a community and never let it be known that they have unique concerns – “you may not even notice them,” she said. Both ladies said military families almost never ask for anything and urged viewers to take the initiative in finding them. Obama added that the end of the wars will not end the need to support military members and their families. In 2021 Dr. Biden, now the First Lady, resolves to continue her work with Joining Forces, and the Museum, entering its 10th year, continues to present the family side of military history through exhibits, programs, publications, podcasts and blogs. As military family members, we bridge both the military and civilian cultures of wherever we happen to be. We identify as "sponsors" and "spouses" and as "dependents" and "brats". We pack up and move at the drop of a hat, we assimilate US and Host Nation cultures and customs, and we make and lose friends on a regular basis. We spend a lot of our time waiting. Our children are called "unrooted". We are patriots to the end--long after the crowds have stopped cheering and we are left picking up the pieces. Join us on our journey as we continue to create and develop the Museum of the American Military Family-- celebrating and honoring our centuries-old history!

School’s out for summer but the learning never stops. Check out these freebies to encourage kids to keep up with their r...
05/24/2026

School’s out for summer but the learning never stops. Check out these freebies to encourage kids to keep up with their reading. 📚

Our exhibit "The Paladin" was featured in the local paper this week!
05/24/2026

Our exhibit "The Paladin" was featured in the local paper this week!

Last weekend was a wonderful way to wrap up to the “Learning and Leisure in Little America” programming in Munich. Giesi...
05/24/2026

Last weekend was a wonderful way to wrap up to the “Learning and Leisure in Little America” programming in Munich. Giesinger Bahnhof hosted filmmakers Mavie Bellay and Etienne Bellay to screen their documentary, “Basketball is Jazz: The Ernest Butler Story.” The film screening was accompanied by live music and great conversation.

Etienne Bellay was a junior high school student in Ernest Butler’s World History class at the Munich American High School in Perlacher Forst. This early eye-opening experience led him to take Butler’s Black History course in his senior year (1971).

Butler was born in Muncie, Indiana and grew up listening to Jazz and playing football and basketball in high school before studying at Ball State University to be a high school history teacher. After a short stint in the army, he returned to Germany to teach high school in Gießen. He was the first African-American from the US to play in the German Basketball Bundesliga. He played basketball for the Gießen 1846 and later, FC Bayern.

In 1965 Gießen won the German basketball Championship with Butler throwing a buzzer be**er from 12 meters away. Butler taught history at Munich American High School, and coached around 50 women’s teams. He showed that every movement in basketball can be executed rhythmically and he taught Dirk Nowitzki the basics of playing the saxophone.

Here’s a trailer about the documentary:
https://youtu.be/qJmuJRkjOgI?si=xv5wGeuRgsipclO9

05/23/2026

As Memorial Day draws near, let us find motivation in the timeless emblem of liberty and bravery that the flag represents, and pay tribute to the lives that forged the very essence of our nation. The last fold embodies a mighty pledge: that their ultimate sacrifice will ignite a brighter tomorrow. Let us take a moment to recognize the profound influence of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service, and renew our commitment to crafting a world that upholds their legacy, honoring their memory and the loved ones they left behind.

Happening today in Sweetwater, TX!
05/23/2026

Happening today in Sweetwater, TX!

This Saturday, we’re honored to welcome Veterans and Active Duty Military with FREE admission as we celebrate Memorial Weekend. 🇺🇸

Join us as we remember those who served, honor those who sacrificed, and celebrate the spirit of aviation history together.

Thank you for your service. We look forward to seeing you at the Museum this weekend! ✈️

The Overloon War Cemetery is located in the village of Overloon, Netherlands, and serves as the final resting place for...
05/23/2026

The Overloon War Cemetery is located in the village of Overloon, Netherlands, and serves as the final resting place for 281 mostly British servicemen who died in the heavy fighting that took place in the region between October and November 1944. The cemetery is notable for the young age of the fallen, with dozens of soldiers being only 18 or 19 years old. Many of the headstones are engraved with messages from the soldier‘s family member.

Memorial Day weekend is a time to reflect on the ultimate sacrifices made to protect national freedoms, and a stark reminder of the true cost of war.

Two more wishes from the wall…
05/23/2026

Two more wishes from the wall…

05/23/2026

FREE summer adventures for military families? Yes, really. 🖼️🦖✈️

Blue Star Families, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, brings Blue Star Museums back for another summer of exploration, connection, and family fun.

Through this nationwide initiative, eligible military families receive FREE admission to nearly 2,000 participating museums all summer long.

Whether your family loves dinosaurs, art, airplanes, science experiments, or hands-on exhibits, there’s something to explore near you — at no cost.

📍 Free admission is available through Labor Day.

Start planning your next adventure: https://bit.ly/2OGc5bt

The Museum of the American Military Family is an all volunteer- run 501c3 nonprofit and depends on sponsorships, grants ...
05/22/2026

The Museum of the American Military Family is an all volunteer- run 501c3 nonprofit and depends on sponsorships, grants and donations to do its work of creating exhibits, programming, and podcasts, hiring high school and college interns, and more. Many of our funding sources are drying up, and we ask you, our followers, to consider sponsoring or donating to MAMF. If you'd like your business or organization to sponsor us for a day or two, please look at our template below, scan the QR code and put your info in the "notes" block on our PayPal. But--if you just want to make a donation in any amount, scan the QR code to PayPal, donate via the Facebook button, or send us a check to MAMF, PO Box 5651, Albuquerque, NM 87185. Your help today will ensure our work continues into the future. Thank you for your consideration!

As Memorial Day nears, people across the nation and around the world will visit cemeteries and memorials to honor and re...
05/22/2026

As Memorial Day nears, people across the nation and around the world will visit cemeteries and memorials to honor and remember fallen U.S. service members. If you‘re attending a ceremony this weekend, we’d love you to post a photo in the comments section⬇️

Hello military families in the Tampa Bay Area. Anyone up for coffee and connections?
05/21/2026

Hello military families in the Tampa Bay Area. Anyone up for coffee and connections?

Coffee Connect Alert!

We’re brewing up community and conversation Wednesday at 11 ☕

Come grab a cup, meet new faces, and connect with fellow community members. We can’t wait to see you there!

Starbucks, 4418 W Gandy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33611

Let us know to expect you by registering here: https://neighborhood.bluestarfam.org/topics/29331/events/147461

Address

PO Box 5651
Albuquerque, NM
87185

Telephone

(505) 504-6830

Website

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