Life can be difficult for military families, especially for those who have a loved one serving over seas. In an effort to recognize their sacrifice, Blue Star Families recently launched a new program aimed at providing free and discounted prices for tickets to plays, classes and other services offered by theaters across the country, The Associated Press reports.
The initiative is a partnership between Blue Star Families, the National Endowment for the Arts and a number of participating theaters throughout the country. It resembles a similar program launched by Blue Star Families and the NEA in 2010 that provide military families with discounted fares to a long list of museums across the country.
Though organizers say it's important to foster a love for the arts, the main goal of such programs is to give back to troops and their families, many of whom have overcome substantial obstacles.
"These types of programs remind our troops and their families how much we value and appreciate their service to our nation," U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, a supporter of the program, said in a statement.
Participating theaters range from Oregon to New York to Kentucky, and the program adds to a growing number of programs that offer benefits to military families. Most recently, the White House announced earlier this year that military families could get a free lifetime pass to National Parks.