Oct. 27 opening set for veterans memorial
This country's official museum honoring military veterans has an opening day: Oct. 27.
That's when the $82 million National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus will throw open its doors to the public, with retired Army general and former Secretary of State Colin Powell set to give the keynote address.
Museum officials announced Thursday that the opening and dedication of the 53,000-square-foot museum — on West Broad Street across from COSI Columbus in the area of the East Franklinton neighborhood known as the Scioto Peninsula — will take place from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The museum will stay open until 9 p.m. after the ceremony for the public to get its first look.
Construction started on the museum in 2015 after Franklin County demolished the aging Veterans Memorial that stood at the site. Spurred by the vision of John Glenn, the late astronaut and U.S. senator, and led by a donation of $40.6 million from local philanthropists Retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael Ferriter is the president and CEO of the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. A public opening date of Oct. 27 has been set for the $82 million facility, which seeks to tell veterans’ stories without focusing on a particular war or military branch. Leslie and Abigail Wexner, the museum gained its official national designation from Congress earlier this year.
Aiming to tell the stories of America's veterans, rather than focus on one branch of service or any particular war, the
museum is headed by retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Ferriter, who was hired in June as president and CEO.
"I believe the institution will be a national treasure and will become a pilgrimage site for millions of veterans and
their families," Ferriter said in a release. "I also believe that what lies within the walls of the museum is only the beginning of its impact."
In July, the museum hired Samir Bitar as its director.
He most recently was director of visitor experience at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, where he developed and oversaw strategies to improve access and engagement for visitors. The veterans museum here in Columbus said that more details about the opening and dedication will be added as available at www. nationalvmm.org.
Originally slated to open in the summer, the museum's date was pushed back a couple of times by its developer, the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation. For months, however, its leaders have promised it would open before Veterans Day in November.
Guy Worley, president and CEO of the development corporation, said Thursday that he can't help but think back to the day in 2013 when Glenn first spoke of leading an effort for a true veterans memorial here.
"It is really gratifying to see that his vision is finally coming to fruition," Worley said. "The mission ... was to really understand what the stories of our veterans were and make sure they are told."