COOPERSTOWN, NY - Throughout the history of the National Pastime, the heroes of the diamond have also been the heroes of the battlefield, the sea and the sky.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates this connection every day in Cooperstown - whether those heroes are Hall of Famers or everyday citizens who sacrificed to keep America free.

As the nation pauses to thank servicemen and women on Veterans Day on Friday, the Hall of Fame welcomes active duty and career retired military to the Museum every day with free admission. Those holding current memberships in the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion and AMVets organizations receive a daily $7.50 discount off regular Museum admission.

A total of 68 of the 295 elected members of the Hall of Fame - almost one quarter of all enshrined in Cooperstown - served in the Armed Forced during wartime. The Museum honors their service with bronze medallions underneath their Hall of Fame plaque in the Museum's historic Plaque Gallery.

The Hall of Fame is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Veterans Day. For more information on Hall of Famers or on the Museum's admissions policy for veterans, please visit www.baseballhall.org.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is open seven days a week year round, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. The Museum observes regular hours of 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. from Labor Day until Memorial Day Weekend. From Memorial Day Weekend through the day before Labor Day, the Museum observes summer hours of 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Ticket prices are $19.50 for adults (13 and over), $12 for seniors (65 and over) and for those holding current memberships in the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and AMVets organizations, and $7 for juniors (ages 7-12). Members are always admitted free of charge and there is no charge for children 6 years of age or younger. For more information, visit our Web site at baseballhall.org or call 888-HALL-OF-FAME (888-425-5633) or 607-547-7200.