ALBUQUERQUE, NM-Due to high interest, the Albuquerque Balloon Museum has extended the visit of the "Honoring Our History" Exhibition. The Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. and Ivy Funds have created an ambitious and unconventional acknowledgement of the firm's 75th anniversary. In partnership with the National World War I Museum, they are funding a national tour of a custom 18-wheel truck that has been transformed into a traveling gallery that will visit 75 communities across the U.S., with Albuquerque's Balloon Museum being selected for one of the stops.

On Friday, January 13 and Saturday, January 14, the unique traveling museum will be at the Balloon Museum between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering a free, interactive and educational experience designed in concert with the National World War I Museum-the first and only American museum solely dedicated to preserving the artifacts, history and personal experiences of a war that brought dramatic impact and still echoes in our culture today.

The traveling gallery features a variety of artifacts, videos, an authentic walk-through trench that simulates the war environment, audio tracks, headlines and historical descriptions. It allows visitors the chance to experience the tight conditions of trench warfare, see the relatively primitive tools, weapons, equipment and uniforms, amid sounds and signs of war 100 years ago. Every visitor has the opportunity to make a financial donation to support the non-profit museum either electronically on-board, or through cash donations. Visitors donating $25 or more will receive an "Honoring Our History" T-shirt. Proceeds from donations received during the January 13th Albuquerque visit will be shared with the Balloon Museum Foundation, which is coordinating the event, benefiting our local community with the development of new public programs and events at the Museum.

World War I, "the war to end all wars," was the sixth deadliest conflict in human history. There were approximately 16.5 million deaths and 21 million wounded. The total number of deaths includes 9.7 million military personnel and about 6.8 million civilians. The Entente Powers (also known as the Allies) lost about 5.7 million soldiers while the Central Powers lost about 4 million. U.S. military deaths were 116,708; civilian deaths 757; military wounded 12,809,280.

Waddell & Reed founders Chauncey Waddell and Cameron Reed were WWI veterans who formed a partnership in 1937 to create one of the longest-standing mutual fund and financial planning complexes in the country. The company they founded hopes to raise $500,000 through the tour to help support the museum's plans for the WWI centennial in 2014.

In honor of our nation's military and veterans there will be a reduced, $1 admission fee to the Balloon Museum for all active and non-active military with ID on Friday, January 13 and Saturday, January 14.

The Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is a division of the Cultural Services Department, City of Albuquerque, Richard J. Berry, Mayor. Located at 9201 Balloon Museum Drive NE just south of Balloon Fiesta Park (North of Alameda), the Balloon Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round (closed Mondays). Admission is $4.00 for adults ($3.00 for NM residents), $2.00 for seniors 65+, $1.00 for children ages 4-12, and children 3 and under FREE. Admission is free each Sunday from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., and all day on the first Friday of every month. Balloon Museum Foundation members, ICOM, AAM, and NMAM members are FREE. For more information, call 505-768-6020, visit www.cabq.gov/balloon, or call 311. For accessibility, call Relay NM or 711.