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Q&A
Discussion on expanding Intrepid Museum programs for veterans and families
1:50:54
ยท
4 min
Council Member Holden engages in a Q&A session with Margaret Gambaro about expanding programs at the Intrepid Museum for veterans and their families. They discuss various initiatives and their impact on veterans.
- They explore programs like free tours for veterans and their families, and the Intrepid After Hours program
- The discussion covers the importance of removing financial barriers for veterans and their families
- They talk about the frequency of programs and how to access information about them
Robert F. Holden
1:50:54
So let's talk about other programs that we can expand in the interpreter that you think are worthwhile.
Margaret Gambaro
1:51:01
So are you asking about specific programs?
Robert F. Holden
1:51:03
Well, if you have something like or 2 on on the top of your head.
1:51:06
I don't wanna put pressure on you, but but I I do wanna hear anything that we could do as a as a committee to to really support the intrepid.
Margaret Gambaro
1:51:14
Yeah.
1:51:15
Definitely.
1:51:16
I will say, as I mentioned before, the tours that we do.
1:51:20
We do free tours for veterans for veteran organizations and also veteran family organizations, and we are connected to blue star families.
1:51:32
And that it does help a lot, as I mentioned, by just giving that tour, giving that space for conversations.
1:51:41
We usually anytime when we're doing a tour for veterans, we kinda oh, we kinda go less on just the regular tour that we would usually give to the civilian public and let the veterans speak more to their to their experiences and ask question and even ask person no questions.
1:52:03
Like, is this something like your experience are?
1:52:06
What did you go through crossing the line ceremony?
1:52:09
What was it like?
1:52:11
Different things like that.
1:52:13
And, also, one program that I did not mention, but just that has been successful is our intrepid after hours, which is for veteran and current service members only.
1:52:26
And through that, we give a space for veteran and current service members, especially ones that may not feel welcome at traditional veterans and military spaces to talk to each other and to share their experience.
Robert F. Holden
1:52:41
They could bring their families too to them.
Margaret Gambaro
1:52:43
This one, they don't bring their family, but it has led to them bringing their families.
Robert F. Holden
1:52:48
Okay.
Margaret Gambaro
1:52:48
It has led to them bringing their families to see top gun on the flight deck.
1:52:54
It has led one gentleman, him and him and his husband, just became volunteers at the museum.
1:53:02
And it was first, some of our regulars that come to this program is we'd be getting to that.
1:53:10
It's the beginning of their healing process.
1:53:14
And so yeah.
1:53:15
So and just in general, by giving families these spaces and also taking away the financial burden of bringing in the family to Intrepid is one of the biggest things I think.
Robert F. Holden
1:53:32
So the after hours, what what's the window on that?
1:53:35
You know, you say, what is after hours?
1:53:37
How many is it a few hours?
1:53:38
It's a
Margaret Gambaro
1:53:39
Yeah.
1:53:39
So Intrepid after hours, as I mentioned, it is far current service and veterans only.
1:53:46
It is from 4:30 to 8 o'clock.
1:53:49
It is Mhmm.
1:53:50
They get time to walk around themselves, and then we do some type of main event that's usually a workshop, a talk, or a tour, and then it's a free meal at the end.
1:54:02
We have a catered dinner.
1:54:04
And so through all of that, And we have that about five times a year.
Robert F. Holden
1:54:12
Okay.
1:54:12
That's what that was my next question.
1:54:14
But it's always five times a year, and we can we can is that published somewhere that we can get the dates?
Margaret Gambaro
1:54:19
Yeah.
1:54:20
So we are actually in the process of planning 2025 and putting the 2025 dates on our website.
1:54:31
And also on justintrepidmuseum.org/vets, you can see all the all of the things that we offer, including when we do have those public programs, are during kids' week, are fleet week even that we have the special the special experience for military families and veteran families.
James Hendon
1:54:56
Well,
Robert F. Holden
1:54:57
thank you so much again.
1:54:58
And we'll we'll talk about the trying to see how we can help families more in in the certainly on the intrepid.
1:55:06
But thanks again.
1:55:07
Yeah.
1:55:07
Thanks so much.
1:55:08
Matt, you.
1:55:09
Alicia, yeah.