Commemorate Revolutionary, Modern-Day Veterans During Veterans Day Weekend at the Museum, Nov. 8-11

Weekend Includes Free Admission for Veterans, Military, and Blue Star Families, Pension Project Premiere Event, and More 

Explore Museum’s New Special Exhibition, The Declaration’s Journey

The Museum of the American Revolution will honor Veterans Day Weekend, Saturday, Nov. 8 – Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, with a film screening event, discovery carts, performances, and more. From Nov. 8-11, the Museum will offer free admission to veterans, military, and Blue Star families.  

The Museum will highlight living veterans reading the military pensions of Revolutionary War soldiers to connect the past with the present as part of its Pension Project, a powerful series of videos first released in 2023, and for which two new installments will be unveiled this year. A film screening and conversation on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 2-3 p.m. in the Museum’s Lenfest Myer Theater will debut this year’s videos featuring United States Army Reserve Veteran Kirby Smith and United States Marine Corps Veteran Jaz Ritz. The videos will also be released on the Museum’s website and Youtube channel. 

Ritz served in the Marine Corps for eight years, including a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the video, Ritz reflects on the pension of African American soldier Jacob Francis, a free Black man from New Jersey who served in the Continental Army, most notably at the Crossing of the Delaware.  

Smith served as a U.S. Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel and former Army aviator. Smith will address the pension of Robert Bolling, a Virginian who served as a cavalry officer during the Revolutionary War. His pension application included an order given by Thomas Jefferson, wartime governor of Virginia.  

On Nov. 8 following the screening, Museum President and CEO Dr. R. Scott Stephenson, Ritz, and previous Pension Project participant Adam Straus will join in a talk-back session moderated by Senior Manager of Gallery Interpretation Dr. Tyler Putman. 

Straus served as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment and 3rd Battalion, 4th Regiment from 2017-2021. In the video feature initially released in 2023, he reads the pension of Ezekiel Ayers, who served tours in the Sussex County, New Jersey militia during the Revolutionary War. A re-edited version of Straus’ Pension Project video will also be screened as part of the event.  

“The Museum’s Pension Project brings the stories of Revolutionary War veterans to life,” said Museum President and CEO Dr. R. Scott Stephenson. “We are honored to connect their stories with today’s generation of veterans and to commemorate their bravery and military service.” 

Other Veterans Day Weekend Highlights: 

Discovery Cart: Black Soldiers and the Revolutionary War | Daily from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Join an educator to discover the stories of people of African descent through hands-on object exploration. 

10-Minute Talk: Objects of Reflection | Daily at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.  

What did the Declaration of Independence mean in 1776 compared to 1963? Join an educator to learn more about two objects in the exhibition.   

10-Minute Talk: Akiatonharonkwen (Louis Cook) | Daily at 11:30 a.m. 

Meet an educator to learn about Louis Cook, one of the highest-ranking Native American officers in the Continental Army. Born to an African American father and an Abenaki Indian mother, Akiatonharonkwen fought in the French and Indian War (1754-1763) as a young man. Discover the path he chose in the Revolutionary War as British and Revolutionary leaders courted him as an ally. 

Hands-on-History at the Discovery Cart | Daily from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.  

Explore replica objects to learn more about the Declaration’s journey and the Museum’s newest special exhibition. 

Unpack a Sea Chest | Daily at 2:30 p.m. 

All hands on deck on the Museum’s replica sloop! Join a Museum educator for stories about what life was like at sea during the Revolutionary War for the Continental Navy, privateers, and prisoners of war, and learn about the different roles needed to operate Revolutionary-era ships. 

Veterans Day Weekend activities are included with regular Museum admission. Tickets for the Pension Project film screening are free with Museum admission and $10 not including Museum admission. Tickets to the Museum can be purchased by calling 215.253.6731, at AmRevMuseum.org, or at the front desk. Free admission for veterans, those currently serving in the military, and Blue Star Families is available at the front desk with ID. The Museum is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. More information is available on the Museum’s website. 

Veterans Day Weekend at the Museum is sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal. 

About the Pension Project  

Beginning in 1818, the United States government created new pension acts meant to guarantee monthly payments to aging Revolutionary War veterans. Many of these former soldiers, though, had no evidence of their service, so they instead went to their local courthouses and magistrates and recorded detailed oral histories of their Revolutionary War service. More than 80,000 veterans applied for pensions, far more than the government imagined would even still be alive. This amazing trove of oral histories of the nation's first veterans sat largely unutilized in federal archives for over a century. By pairing those detailed Revolutionary War pensions with today's generation of veterans, the Museum's Pension Project asks veterans to reflect on similarities and differences between their service and that of people over two centuries ago. 

About Museum of the American Revolution 

The Museum of the American Revolution uncovers and shares compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government. Through the Museum’s unmatched collection, immersive galleries, powerful theater experiences, and interactive elements, visitors gain a deeper appreciation for how this nation came to be and feel inspired to consider their role in ensuring that the promise of the American Revolution endures. Located just steps away from Independence Hall, the Museum serves as a portal to the region’s many Revolutionary sites, sparking interest, providing context, and encouraging exploration. The Museum, which opened on April 19, 2017, is an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.AmRevMuseum.org or call 877.740.1776.