Arlington's National Medal of Honor Museum will open its doors free of charge on Wednesday, November 11, and it is building a full day around Veterans Day. The museum's Veterans Day page lists admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with no advance registration. Check-in is at the front desk, and Ben E. Keith Company is the presenting sponsor.

The museum sits at 1861 AT&T Way in the Entertainment District, and its phone number is 817-274-1861. The day also overlaps with the city's evening parade, so the schedule below runs from morning music to a night-sky finish.

Morning and midday programs

The Arlington Symphony performs patriotic orchestral music from 10 a.m. to noon. Arlington Network, which reported the lineup on November 6, places the performance in Brady Hall, although its own at-a-glance table says museum grounds. The museum's page gives the times but is the safer place to confirm the spot.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Brady Hall hosts a Veterans Day luncheon with a fireside chat. Medal of Honor recipient Flo Groberg and Assistant Secretary of the Navy Ben Kohlmann are listed as speakers. The meal is complimentary, but it is reserved for veterans and active-duty service members, with no spouses or guests, and seats are limited. Reservations go through the museum's luncheon registration page.

Throughout the day, the museum also lists its galleries and special exhibitions, a postcard-writing station for deployed service members and the 1861 Café. The Exhibit Deck closes at 5 p.m.

The museum's page also names USAA and Minky Couture as additional sponsors and says the day is part of the Choctaw Nation Fall Programming Series. Because admission opens at 10 a.m., visitors can see the exhibits in the morning and return for the parade.

The book talk, parade and drone show

At 4:30 p.m., Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum and Medal of Honor recipient Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady sit down for a fireside chat on her book, The Book of Valor. The session runs until 5:30 p.m. and is ticketed, with a copy of the book included. The museum's FAQ says ticket sales are opening soon while its event card says tickets are available, so check the event page before buying.

At 5:30 p.m., the Veterans Day parade steps off, and the museum says the lawn and plaza offer a place to watch. The parade organizers publish route and event information. The 1st Cavalry Division Band follows with an outdoor concert on the museum plaza, though the museum's page gives no clock time for it. Arlington Network estimates about 6:30 p.m.

A drone show over Mark Holtz Lake follows at about 7 p.m. Once it begins, the museum says exterior doors close and re-entry is not allowed.

Getting there and what to plan for

Parking is next to the museum off AT&T Way, with overflow in Lot N, according to the museum's hours, directions and parking page. The museum expects road closures in the Entertainment District from about 2 p.m. and lists an exit route through Lot F to Copeland Road.

Visitors who need accessibility accommodations can call 817-274-1861 or use the main entrance. Because the luncheon and the book talk each require their own reservation or ticket, decide which parts of the day matter most before you go.

Arlington Network's November 6 report gives the full lineup in one place. Details can change, so confirm the schedule with the museum before you leave home. Keep the museum's phone number handy, since it is the number the museum lists for accessibility requests.