There are few traditions as fervently cherished as those held by military families. At Mall of America®, we honor those who sacrifice for what we have—both those actively fighting and those who share their mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, husbands, and wives for the sake of American freedom.
In an effort to never forget all those who serve this country, the Mall celebrates military families throughout the year. Some of our favorite opportunities include:
- Holiday for Heroes, a day for military families in Minnesota to enjoy Nickelodeon Universe free of charge.
- Purple Up Day, a fun day at MOA for military children, complete with DJs, face painting, character meet & greets, and time in Nickelodeon Universe, to thank them for sacrificing time with their parents.
- Partnering with Meals from the Heart to deliver Thanksgiving turkeys to armories around the state.
- Encouraging community members to nominate military spouses to enjoy a day of pampering and shopping to honor their sacrifice.
- Partnering with the National Guard and 133rd Airlift Wing to host surprise reunions.
- Educating our guests about holidays like Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Flag Day.
Mall of America is also officially a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Company, an organization founded to support members of the military in absence of a military base in Minnesota. As an official Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Company, we have made commitments not only to the community, but also internally. One of those commitments is to allow MOA team members in the National Guard to attend their 80 hours of mandatory annual Guard training without requiring the use of PTO. We also automatically interview any veteran who applies for a job at the Mall, and we have resume “translators” on-site to explain military accomplishments and skills in ways that apply to civilian roles.
The steps we take pale in comparison to what members of our military deserve, but we are dedicated to doing what we can to celebrate those who sacrifice and thank them for their service.