LEWISTON — Museum L-A has announced the launch of Blue Star Museums, a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense and more than 1,800 museums across America to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2013.

“Museum L-A is proud to be part of Blue Star Museums, which gives us a chance to thank our military families for their service, share with them America’s cultural treasures and to be inspired by their experience with us,” said Executive Director Rachel Desgrosseilliers.

“Our next exhibit will be of particular interest to military families,” Desgrosseilliers continued.

The “Power of Music” exhibit series will include a section on World War I and World War II. Local veterans will be planning and contributing their service-related artifacts and memorabilia for this segment of “The Roaring 20s to Swing” exhibit, which will open on Saturday, June 15.

Museum L-A is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 35 Canal St. For more information, contact the museum at 333-3881 or [email protected].

“Blue Star Museums is a collaboration between the arts and military communities,” said NEA Acting Chairwoman Joan Shigekawa. “Our work with Blue Star Families and with more than 1,800 museums ensures that we can reach out to military families and thank them for their service and sacrifice.”

This year’s Blue Star Museums include fine arts museums, science museums, history museums, nature centers and 75 children’s museums.

The free admission program is available to any bearer of a Geneva Convention common access card, a DD Form 1173 ID card or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card, which includes active duty U.S. military and up to five family members. Some special or limited-time museum exhibits may not be included in this free admission program.

The complete list of participating museums is available at www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.