Key Highlights
- The Kennedy Center is honoring America’s service members, veterans and military families with a patriotic holiday spectacular Thursday evening, as the National Symphony Orchestra presents its sold-out "Notes of Honor: NSO Salutes the Military" concert that organizers say is meant to celebrate the sacrifices of the nation’s armed forces.
- The annual tribute, one of the Kennedy Center’s most meaningful holiday traditions, will feature vocalist Melinda Doolittle, orchestral performances and two patriotic centerpieces: a rendition of "Stars and Stripes for Christmas" and a full Armed Forces Service Song Medley that invites members of each branch to rise as their own branch's service anthem echoes through the Concert Hall in Washington, D. C. The performance comes as many military families face deployments, financial pressures and holiday separations.
- Kennedy Center organizers say the unique challenges experienced by military families inspired this year’s emphasis on joy and American pride.
- The event was free for all active-duty service members, veterans, retired personnel and prior-service members, whose vouchers were exchanged for tickets with a valid military ID.
- Demand was so high that the concert reached sold-out status.
