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!

We have more art to share from our "Dear America" exhibit! With Father's Day around the corner, we've chosen some pieces...
06/20/2026

We have more art to share from our "Dear America" exhibit! With Father's Day around the corner, we've chosen some pieces that highlight fathers. It's always fun to hear how kids talk about their parents' jobs. One of our board members remembers being on a kids' TV show, where she was asked what her dad did all day. As a confident four-year-old, she looked into the camera and said, "Nothing--he works in an office!" Take a look at how these military-connected kids describe their fathers' work.

If you’re in the Albuquerque area, could you help?
06/19/2026

If you’re in the Albuquerque area, could you help?

The Emancipation Proclamation, signed by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declared all enslaved people to ...
06/19/2026

The Emancipation Proclamation, signed by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declared all enslaved people to be "forever free." However, its implementation relied on military intervention, which was delayed in certain states. Enslaved people of African descent in Galveston, Texas, did not receive news of their freedom until June 19, 1865. This date is now commemorated as Juneteenth.

To read more about the Army's role in the history of Juneteenth, visit the National Museum of the US Army website:
https://www.thenmusa.org/articles/juneteenth-and-the-u-s-army/

Here is another excellent historical account about Juneteenth on the the National Museum of African American History and Culture website: https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth

New Mexico artist and designer Dominguez created this graphic as part of a CNM internship program with MAMF.

Before the internet, it was harder to stay in touch with friends as we moved from one duty station to another. These day...
06/18/2026

Before the internet, it was harder to stay in touch with friends as we moved from one duty station to another. These days, thankfully, "Will I ever see you again," is a little easier to say "yes" to. With video calls, emails, and social media, we can reach out and connect with friends around the world. But--it is not the same thing as being there in person. Here is some more student art from our "Dear America" exhibit last April.

Congratulations to Rosalie Spielman, award-winning author of the Cozy Mystery Series. Rosalie was named 2026 Mike Mullin...
06/17/2026

Congratulations to Rosalie Spielman, award-winning author of the Cozy Mystery Series. Rosalie was named 2026 Mike Mullins Memorial Writer of the Year by the MWSA.

Serving Around the World: We received some photos about the Goeltz Family: “Dad was in the Army; Mom taught school and u...
06/17/2026

Serving Around the World: We received some photos about the Goeltz Family: “Dad was in the Army; Mom taught school and us three boys were along for the ride! (Mom was my first grade teacher in Ethiopia!) I would not change a thing. I even did 4 yrs in the Air Force… Iran, Africa—and visited over 80 countries!”

Have you kept your old passports as mementoes? Do you make something crafty to indicate all the places you’ve live? Do you have a cork board map with pins in it? Do you plant something in your garden that reminds you of past duty stations? How do you “document” where all you’ve lived? We’d love to see your creativity!

Thanks to Paul for starting off this conversation. We hope you’ll join in with more ideas of how you celebrate your nomadic life! Send us a photo, or post in the comments below!

You're away at camp for a couple of weeks, and come home and see your car like this. What is your first thought? https:/...
06/16/2026

You're away at camp for a couple of weeks, and come home and see your car like this. What is your first thought?
https://militaryfamilymuseumstories.wordpress.com/2026/06/16/just-a-typical-summer/

Check out this story and many others on our blog!

By Susan Bishop Artwork by Lora Beldon, Military Kid Art Project We were at Davis Monthan AFB in Arizona when I was 11. That summer, I went away for 2 weeks to a sleepaway camp. As the bus taking…

Today is Flag Day and the Army's 251st Birthday! (Happy Birthday!) In researching a good article about how to display th...
06/14/2026

Today is Flag Day and the Army's 251st Birthday! (Happy Birthday!) In researching a good article about how to display the flag, we came across a story on the Scouting.org website we'd never heard: How the current flag was designed. Here's a post on how to display the flag, and another article about Boy Scout Bob Heft.

Here's Bob Heft telling his story:
https://storycorps.org/stories/bob-heft/

Flag Ettiquette:
https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Roundtable-Hot-Topic-Flag-Etiquette.pdf

These two graphics were created by our Central New Mexico College interns specifically for today. When students intern with MAMF, they have a lot of creative freedom and gain practical experience. Our two interns, Dominguez and Robert Shultz choose important calender dates they wanted to make graphics for. While the assignment sounds easy, it wasn't. A simple graphic of the US flag meant researching flag etiquette; a battle commemoration required thought of how to portray those events. How much is too much? How can a message get through in a single picture? Is the date, place , or location really accurate? Over the year, we'll showcase more of the work of our four graphics interns.

Did you know…?
06/13/2026

Did you know…?

Before he was a national treasure in denim, Bob Ross served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a master sergeant. His time at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska helped inspire the snowy mountains he later painted.

Address

PO Box 5651
Albuquerque, NM
87185

Telephone

(505) 504-6830

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Museum of the American Military Family & Learning Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Museum of the American Military Family & Learning Center:

Shortcuts

Share

Category