America’s 250th birthday comes only once, and USS Midway Museum celebrated this historic occasion in grand fashion.
More than 2,500 Independence Day revelers, clad in various shades of red, white and blue, packed Midway’s flight deck for an old-fashion rock ‘n’ roll concert and to view one of the most impressive fireworks extravaganzas on the West Coast.
Since opening to the public in 2004, the USS Midway Museum has remained steadfast in its commitment to honoring and supporting military veterans and their families. Through direct financial contributions, discounted and complimentary admission programs, commemorative ceremonies and special events, Midway proudly recognizes the service, sacrifice and dedication of those who have worn the uniform of our nation and the families who have stood beside them.
The USS Midway Museum’s educational programs are renowned, not just in San Diego, but around the country and with our international neighbors. Since the department’s inception in 2005, it’s estimated that nearly a quarter of a million students have visited Midway as part of immersive onboard field trips, while tens of thousands of others have participated in the museum’s far-reaching distance learning program, unique overnight adventures and the highly respected Midway Institute for Teachers.
Nearly 8,000 miles separate Baghdad from San Diego, but for a young Iraqi girl, the promise of America never felt far away.
Born into a devoted and caring family, Star Bales and her siblings always felt happy and free inside their home in the Iraqi capital. Outside the house, however, she saw that her country lacked freedom on many levels – speech, religion and the press. A shadow of fear always hung oppressively just above the horizon.
It is rare that a motion picture captivates audiences across decades, earning the admiration of generation after generation of moviegoers. “The Wizard of Oz,” “Star Wars,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and even Disney’s animated “The Beauty and the Beast,” are among a select few classic films whose popularity has endured, remaining just as beloved today as when they first hit the silver screen.
“Top Gun,” without question, has proven itself to also be one of those few films that has stood the test of time, capturing viewers’ imagination and keeping them on the edge of their seats for 40 years.
The A-1 Skyraider is a legendary aircraft. A workhorse attack plane for the Navy during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, it was famous for its durability, massive payloads and unmatched slow-speed maneuverability during close-air support missions in combat.
When the USS Midway (CV-41) was an active-duty ship with the U.S. Navy, it was not required to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). When Midway became a museum, however, it was a different story.
Opening to visitors in 2004, the ship immediately became classified as a public accommodation. To ensure equitable access to cultural, historical and educational programming, Midway was required to provide equal access to facilities, exhibits and employment, regardless of a person’s physical, sensory or cognitive abilities.
For more than two and a half centuries, even before the formal signing of the Declaration of Independence, American patriots have been fighting for and, unfortunately, paying the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. The battles of Lexington and Concord, where the first shots of the War of Independence were volleyed, took place more than a year before the Continental Congress officially severed political ties with Great Britain’s monarchy and announced to the world that they were forming a new and independent nation.