Free Admission for military personnel, retirees and their families during Veterans Day weekend Nov. 9-12 @ Colonial Williamsburg
Nov. 9-12. 2012
Colonial Williamsburg honors the sacrifices and dedication of U.S. active duty military personnel, guard and reservists, retirees, veterans and their dependents during special Veterans Day programs on Nov. 11.
On Veterans Day a military march honoring America’s veterans will be held at 4:30 p.m., stepping off at the Capitol. All veterans of service in America’s armed forces are invited to participate in a march along Duke of Gloucester Street with the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums and military programs staff. Groups begin forming at 4:15 p.m. A ceremony follows at the Courthouse on Market Square. Veterans unable to walk the distance can join the march near the Magazine. No Colonial Williamsburg admission ticket is required.
The Williamsburg Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) will hold a brief memorial service in the garden behind the Governor’s Palace at 3 p.m. Colonial Williamsburg Nation Builder Richard Schumann, who portrays Patrick Henry, will give remarks. The ceremony will include a drummer and fifer from the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums. The Williamsburg SAR Color Guard will participate, along with other SAR and Daughters of the American Revolution chapters presenting wreaths.
As part of this tribute, Colonial Williamsburg offers special free admission tickets to active duty military, guard, reservists, retirees, veterans and their dependents from Friday through Monday, Nov. 9 – 12.
The “Honoring Service to America” ticket provides admission to Colonial Williamsburg exhibition sites, the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg and most daytime programs. The ticket also includes free parking at the Visitor Center, access to the short movie, “Williamsburg—The Story of a Patriot,” and complimentary use of Colonial Williamsburg shuttle buses.
The service member need not be present, and free “Honoring Service to America” tickets will be provided to dependents of currently deployed troops with appropriate identification. Military veterans who separated before retirement can bring a copy of their honorable discharge paperwork, DD Form 214, as identification of service. These weekend-long tickets are available only at the Colonial Williamsburg Regional Visitor Center and on-site ticket sales locations including the Lumber House Ticket Office in the Revolutionary City or ticket window in Merchants Square.