The STARS & stripes for service initiative expands the national veterans memorial and museum's (NVMM) annual veterans day flag tradition into a scalable civic learning program for schools and…

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded the National Veterans Memorial & Museum Operating Corp $1,272,624 on September 1, 2026, under the Museums for America program (CFDA 45.301) to expand its Veterans Day flag tradition into a scalable civic learning initiative called the Stars & Stripes for Service Initiative.

The project delivers program kits to participating K-12 schools in Central Ohio containing American flags, installation materials, educator guides, veteran storytelling resources, and structured reflection activities. Students install flag displays within their school communities, engage with narratives about veterans before, during, and after military service, and participate in guided classroom discussions and written reflections exploring duty, freedom, and civic participation. The initiative will serve approximately 10,000 K-12 students across urban, suburban, and rural districts in the region and generate a replicable model for cultural institutions seeking to foster civic identity, historical understanding, and community engagement.

Performance occurs at Columbus, Ohio, with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028. The Museums for America program supports museums of all sizes in project-based efforts serving the public through educational programs, exhibits, community partnerships, and collections stewardship.

The STARS & stripes for service initiative expands the national veterans memorial and museum's (NVMM) annual veterans day flag tradition into a scalable civic learning program for schools and communities. Participating schools will receive program kits that include american flags, installation materials, educator guides, veteran storytelling resources, and structured reflection activities. Students will install flag displays within their school communities, engage with narratives highlighting veterans before, during, and after military service, and participate in guided classroom discussions and written reflections that explore the meaning of duty, freedom, and civic participation. The primary beneficiaries of the project will be approximately 10,000 K-12 students in central ohio from urban, suburban, and rural districts. The project will provide a replicable model for cultural institutions seeking to foster civic identity, historical understanding, and community engagement in the next generation.