The sound of service and sacrifice rang out through the museum Monday, honoring the Navy’s 250 years of service.

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Air and Space Museum honored Navy members past and present with a special ceremony on its 250th anniversary on Monday morning.

The Spirit of Liberty Foundation’s America’s Freedom Bell rang eight times to symbolize the end of the watch for the last year, a long-standing Navy tradition. The bell was then rung once more to signal a new year and a new watch.

Jim Kidrick, President and CEO of the San Diego Air and Space Museum, is also a Navy veteran who served in San Diego.

“When you’re 250 years old, that’s pretty significant, and it’s really the greatness of our nation, of our Navy, that we’re trying to acknowledge today, because it is so important,” He said.

Attendees were also invited to ring the bell themselves, in honor of their service or a loved one.

Tom Nolan stepped forward to honor both his father and uncle.

“He served in Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the Philippine seas, and his ship was strafed by a kamikaze,” Nolan said. “It means a lot to me, because hopefully they’re up there looking down and they know that we appreciate everything they did, all the sacrifices they made.”

The San Diego Air and Space Museum has long highlighted the Navy’s history, with exhibits spanning decades of naval aviation.

“We cover all facets of aviation and space, but we have a significant Navy Marine Corps presentation here,” Kidrick said.

Among the displays are an F-18 Blue Angel, a replica of the first airplane sold to the Navy and a rare Sea Dart that greets visitors at the entrance.

Volunteers help bring history to life by handcrafting aircraft parts for the exhibits.

“What you see it’s all hand-built. We have no big presses or anything; everything is either done in a roller or hand-formed,” said restoration volunteer Bob Parker.

Kidrick said preserving these artifacts isn’t just about the past; it’s about inspiring the future.

“As we connect the dots of the past, of our history, we also want to help vision the future, because it’s very important for young men and women to appreciate those 250 years, because they’re going to be our legacy in the future,” he said.

To thank those who serve, the museum offered free admission to all active duty servicemembers and veterans on Monday.

The Navy was officially established on October 13, 1775, making it the oldest branch of the U.S. armed forces.