Calling all educators: mark your calendars for two opportunities this fall to engage with history and heroic narratives at no cost. The National Medal of Honor Museum is opening its doors for "Free Teacher Days" on September 13 and November 1, according to a recent announcement from the Museum's press office. Any adult showing a school employee ID, including teachers, administrative staff, classroom aides, and substitutes, will be granted free access to the museum and its specialized programs for the day.
In an effort to extend resources for character education in classrooms, these Free Teacher Days are not just about soaking in history, but about finding new ways to inspire students. "Through our Free Teacher Days, we are striving to provide educators with resources to foster character education in the classroom. The stories and values of the Medal of Honor are more than history lessons – they are moments of self-discovery, opportunities to reflect on choices, and invitations to put timeless values into action," Chris Cassidy, President and CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, told City of Arlington.
These free days offer a treasure trove of benefits for educators: the chance to inspire their teaching, exclusive access to classroom-ready resources, and networking opportunities with like-minded professionals. The Museum also encourages teachers to experience the exhibits through the eyes of their students first, potentially enhancing the impact when they later guide their classes through these halls of valor and sacrifice.
The Museum, which opened its doors to the public on March 25, 2025, offers not only an interactive experience for its visitors but also a significant educational component. It aims to connect the threads of sacrifice, patriotism, and courage that unite members of the United States military, past and present. In addition to the Free Teacher Days, the Museum's education team offers curriculum and programming through the National Medal of Honor Griffin Institute – all created to impart to students the core values associated with the Medal of Honor. This connects the museum's content with more universal lessons on character and ethical actions in and out of the classroom.
Since the signing of the National Medal of Honor Monument Act in 2021, the Museum has taken its place not only in Arlington, Texas, but as a part of a larger national consciousness; with a monument to come in Washington, D.C. So while the museum continues to preserve the history of the military's highest decoration for valor in combat, these Free Teacher Days help to ensure that the museum's lessons of bravery and selflessness reach beyond its walls to classrooms across the nation.
