Music at the Monument is a concert series held at the Lincoln Memorial on the National Monument Grounds. Former NFL star and ironman triathlete, Darryl Haley produces the concert series in order to bring awareness and help to minorities, veterans, youth, and seniors in the D.C. community.
Haley says, "Music at the Monument was started in order to bring recognition and honor those servicemen and women who protect our great country."
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GREAT DAY WASHINGTON VIDEO: Music at the Monument
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The event evolved into a unique way for community members and especially urban youth to get to know military personnel. Concert goers can also learn about the programs and resources that can be gained through the U.S. Armed Forces. This fits well with the #knowyourmil better community initiative of the Department of Defense.
Col. Paul Haverstick says, "It allows us the opportunity to partner up with great events like this. The initiative is to provide familiarity to the 99% who don't serve. So they get a chance to engage with service members, see the different jobs they have and why they serve and maybe even get to meet their familes as well."
The concerts take place on the first and third Friday of each month from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. The event series began in May and runs through September 16, 2018. Performances include Jazz, R&B, Country, Pop, Rock, and many more.
The series is part of the National Park Services' "Healthy Parks Healthy People" initiative, which shows the correlation between National Parks and living a healthy, active life. These concerts feature both local and national performing artists that encourage diverse audiences to come to the National Mall and spread the word about the meaning of National Parks.
Javier Starks, host of the Music at the Monument says, "It's just wonderful to see people from different places and cultural backgrounds come together and just be in one space and the synergy is just indescribable."
While enjoying the live music, concert goers can access information about health and wellness, community services, education options, and park recreation and preservation.
These concerts are free and open to the public. To learn more about the concert series and for a full list of performances, click here.
