Museum Honors Veterans Day by Offering Free Admission to Veterans during November

(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates Hall of Famers’ service to their country year-round in the iconic Plaque Gallery.

And during November, the Hall of Fame will offer all military Veterans free admission to the home of baseball in Cooperstown.

All Veterans will be admitted to the Museum free of charge in November with proof of Veteran status that includes one of the following:

- U.S. Department of Defense Form 214
- NOAA Form 56-16
- Public Health Service form 1867
- United States Department of Veterans Affairs ID Card
- New York State Driver's License with Veteran distinguishing mark

Following the month of November, the Hall of Fame will continue to provide 20-year career retired military and active duty military with free Museum admission every day the Hall of Fame is open, with all other Veterans also receiving discounted admission each day.

On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, the Hall of Fame will continue its tradition of honoring electees whose big league careers were interrupted by their service to their country by installing branch-of-service medallions adjacent to the plaques of Class of 2022 members Gil Hodges and Buck O’Neil. During World War II, Hodges served in the Marines and O’Neil served in the Navy.

Seventy of the 340 Hall of Famers interrupted their baseball careers for military service, and each is recognized with a medallion below their plaque in the Museum’s Plaque Gallery.

“We are honored to welcome Veterans to the Museum throughout the year, and we hope many will take the opportunity to visit us in November in recognition of the longstanding connection between the United States and the National Pastime,” said Josh Rawitch, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “It is our privilege to honor all Veterans – Hall of Famers, neighbors and friends alike.”

The Veterans Day program will also feature the Color Guard from Cooperstown VFW Post 7128, a special video message from Evan Wright, Commanding Officer of the USS Cooperstown, and remarks from Josh Rawitch and Joel Evans, Executive Deputy Director for New York State Division of Veterans’ Services. The annual Cooperstown Veterans Day Parade will begin at 11 a.m. on Main Street.

“As a United States Marine Corps Veteran, and a lifelong baseball fan, I know first-hand about the close bond between the American military and the ‘Great American Game’ of baseball,” said Viviana DeCohen, Director of the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services. “It is an honor to partner with the Hall of Fame in this special program offering free admission to Veterans throughout the entire ‘Veterans Month’ of November. We know that Veterans from every region of New York State will enjoy this opportunity to pay a visit to Cooperstown and experience this one-of-a-kind shrine to our national pastime. Joining forces with the Hall of Fame is always a home run.”

Also on Veterans Day and throughout the month of November, the Hall of Fame will offer a special self-guided Military Appreciation Tour, which highlights stories about Hall of Famers who put their lives on the line to serve our country during wartime. The New York State Division of Veterans’ Services will have an information station in the Museum Foyer on Veterans Day to inform Veterans and their families about the federal and state benefits that they have earned, and to help them file claims and appeals for those benefits. Museum guests on Veterans Day will also have the opportunity to honor the military personnel and veterans at the Membership Desk by writing letters to thank our soldiers and Veterans. All letters will be sent to Operation Gratitude.