The Friends of the Museum, headquartered in Mineral Wells, Texas, is the support organization for The National Vietnam War Museum. It is a 501 (c)(3) corporation, so donations to the Friends are tax deductible. This group is comprised of veterans and non-veterans who are interested in helping the museum's board of directors develop a national museum on a twelve-acre site east of Mineral Wells on Highway 180, about 50 miles west of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
The group's mission is to: Raise funds and public awareness for the National Vietnam War Museum. The Friends group has an ex-officio member on the Museum Board of Directors and the two groups freely exchange information. The Friends have been recognized for developing the idea of "Honorary Landowner", which generated more than $30,000 in revenue for the museum and funded the purchase of the land on which the museum is built.
Members of the Friends are responsible for securing a resolution passed by the American Legion at the national level supporting the museum. The Friends generate a quarterly newsletter that provides information to members and the interested public. Membership in the Friends is open to anyone at a cost of $15.00 annually per household, which includes receiving the newsletter.
The Mineral Wells Friends group meets typically on the 4th Saturday of each month from 10:00 am untill 11:30 am. The Weatherford Friends typically meets on the fourth Tuesday at 7:00 pm at various locations in Weatherford. Members are not required to attend the meetings, but attendees are needed regularly to "work" on the current group project.
Membership
Annual dues are $15.00. To become a member and receive the newsletter, do one of the following:
- Send a check to Friends of the Museum, P.O. Box 146, Mineral Wells, TX 76068.
- Pay online at the Museum's donation page and email receipt to with request to join.
