1st Annual Military Appreciation Day

🇺🇸✨ MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY ✨🇺🇸

📍 Branched Oak Observatory
📅 Saturday, July 25th, 2026
🕓 4 PM – Midnight
The Branched Oak Observatory is proud to honor ALL Active Duty Military, Veterans, and their families for their service and sacrifice to our nation!
🎟 FREE ADMISSION for:
✅ Active Duty Military
✅ Veterans
✅ Spouses / Significant Others
✅ Immediate Children
This is going to be an unforgettable evening of family fun, patriotism, science, music, and the night sky!
🍔 FOOD will be available from Granny Gwen's and other food trucks
💧 FREE Water for all provided by the David Staenberg Family Foundation
🌞 DAYTIME ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:
🔭 Safe Solar Viewing through specialized solar telescopes
🪐 Classroom presentations & make-and-take STEM projects
☄️ Meet “Mike the Meteorite” — a REAL rock from outer space! Hold him and snap your selfie with our celestial traveler!
⚽ Field activities and games for ALL ages
🌌 NIGHTTIME SKY VIEWING:
Experience the universe through a dozen or more telescopes including:
✨ Advanced Digital Scopes
✨ Massive Dobsonian Telescopes
✨ Incredible deep sky views all night long!
🎶 LIVE MUSIC by The Last Minute Band
⭐ SPECIAL GUESTS:
The 501st Legion Star Wars Reenactment Group will be on site with Stormtroopers and many of your favorite Star Wars characters!
🎯 SPECIAL VORTEX BINOCULAR RAFFLE FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL! Thank you to VORTEX Corporation for this donation!!
Each branch of the military will have its own raffle drawing for amazing Vortex 10x50 binoculars thanks to our generous sponsors. Up to 12 pairs will be given away for both active duty and retired military members!
🎁 PLUS amazing raffle prizes including:
🚀 A SeeStar S30 Pro Digital Telescope!, Free Oil Changes, Dining Experiences including Rodizio Grill
🤝 Meet organizations and support groups including but not limited to:
🇺🇸VA
🇺🇸 DAV
🇺🇸 American Legion
🇺🇸VFW
🇺🇸 At Ease
…and many more!
The Branched Oak Observatory Gift shop will be open and we will have some amazing T-Shirts and out of this world designs made on the spot!
🚫 NO FIREWORKS!
🌌 But the night sky WILL explode with breathtaking views!
Bring your military friends, your family, and your lawn chairs and join us for an incredible celebration under the stars as we honor those who have served our nation.
Admission:
FREE for all active duty, veterans, their spouses and immediate children.
General Public - $10 for Adults, $5 for children age 5-13

📍 Branched Oak Observatory
14300 NW 98th St.
Raymond, NE 68428

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