Sponsor a Flag: Memorial Day at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum

Spend Memorial Day at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum on Columbus’s Scioto Peninsula, where the Sponsor a Flag program sets the tone before you even step inside. For $20, you can dedicate a commemorative flag to a specific veteran, creating a broad field of color against the downtown skyline and the Scioto River. After a quiet moment on the grounds, continue into the museum for personal stories, oral histories, and artifacts spanning every branch of service and every era.

You can expect a reverent, reflective atmosphere that works well for families traveling together and for veterans visiting on their own terms. Walk through the Memorial Grove, then make time for the rooftop sanctuary for wide riverfront views. When you’re ready to decompress, the Scioto Mile’s paved trails and bridges connect you back toward the city for an unhurried post-visit walk.

Plan to arrive early for simpler parking in nearby surface lots or the Scioto Mile underground garage. Wear comfortable walking shoes since the museum and surrounding parkland cover several acres, and bring a reusable water bottle plus sun protection if you’re heading onto the river trails. If you’re staying in the Short North or German Village, the COTA CBUS downtown circulator keeps transit straightforward. The museum is fully accessible; pets are not allowed inside, but dogs are welcome on the adjacent Scioto Mile paths.

If rain moves in, the indoor galleries remain open, and you can still view the flag installation from the museum’s glass-walled corridors. Active duty military and Gold Star families typically receive free admission. Sponsored flags generally remain in the community display through the holiday weekend rather than being taken home. For the easiest logistics, book in Downtown Columbus or the Arena District, or look near the Olentangy River if you want a quieter base a short drive from the city center.