NAAM’s Freedom Day celebrates history, culture, equity, and freedom while highlighting the importance of sharing these ideals with ALL members of our community. Freedom Day is a FREE admission day at NAAM offered once a month that provides a variety of community activities, museum activations, and programs for individuals and families of all ages to enjoy at no cost. NAAM uses Freedom Day to spotlight significant and sometimes lesser known moments throughout history that have worked to advance freedom for all.
Join NAAM for Freedom Day on July 26
On July 26 1948, President Truman signed Executive Order 9981, which desegregated the U.S. armed forces and marked a significant step toward racial equity in the military.
It declared the policy of the President to be "equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin". This landmark order also established the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services, tasked with implementing the order's provisions. The Korean War, which began in 1950, became a testing ground for the integrated units, accelerating the process of full integration.
