The annual Fort Des Moines Museum and Education Center Massing of the Colors (which always takes place the first Saturday of November) will be held Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Franklin Jr. High Events Center, 4801 Franklin Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa. A free Pancake Breakfast will be served at 8:00 a.m.

The ceremony will include color guards from military units, veterans service organizations, hereditary organizations, scouts, and others. We will have a guest speaker, musical salutes by the Urbandale Community Band, and more.

Fort Des Moines Museum is a National Historic Landmark and as part of its mission honors the service and sacrifices of veterans, family members, and communities of our nation. The volunteers and supporters of the Museum invite all to join in this event.

“Massing of the Colors is a patriotic ceremony held to rededicate our faith in the United States, and to present our support to the National Colors and the Servicemen and Servicewomen those Colors represent. These ceremonies usually involve color guard units from: Active-Duty, Reserve and National Guard military units; Senior and Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) units; armed services auxiliary organizations; state militias; veteran and civic groups; police, sheriff, and fire departments; and Boy Scout and Girl Scout organizations.”

~Military Order of the World Wars’ (MOWW)

Invitations to participate and attend are being extended to members of the above-mentioned organizations, along with a general invitation to everyone in the community and specific invitations to veterans, community service workers, and students at Central Iowa area middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities.

We will be gathering the colors together as we encourage the community to prepare for the celebration of Veterans Day later in November. After the program there will be an opportunity to meet, greet, thank, and interact with fellow attendees while enjoying light refreshments. Veterans Service Organizations are being invited to set up informational displays, along with representatives from Veterans Administration Programs. Opportunities will also be discussed on how individuals and groups can volunteer to work with the Museum.