The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park was especially proud to host its annual Ex-POW Display Day on October 11. The day was made even more special with the addition of Pearl Harbor Survivors who brought their own archived items from their time serving in Pearl Harbor and from the fateful day when the Japanese attacked on December 7.

Members of the Ex-P.O.W.S. invited the Pearl Harbor Survivors to this joint display given many of their stories are so connected. On Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, but were also attacking American bases in the Philippines and dropping bombs on the capital of Manila. American service members and families were being taken prisoner at the same time those who had survived the Pearl Harbor attacks counted their dead, assessed damages and prepared for retaliation.

For one such Ex-P.O.W., Tom Crosby, it was an unforgettable childhood experience. Captured with his family in the Philippines, Tom spent three hungry and emotionally taxing years in a Japanese prisoner camp until February of 1945, when President MacArthur's 1st Cavalry began a mechanized attack to rescue Tom's prison camp. The Cavalry unit worked to rescue the members of the camp before the Japanese could carry out orders from Tokyo to kill all military and civilian prisoners. Crosby and his family were some of 220 prisoners held hostage by 65 Japanese as hostage negotiations were made at this time. After tense negotiations, the Japanese on the ground agreed to hand over the P.O.W.S. in exchange for their safe escort to the front of enemy lines. The rescue was a success, but the Japanese still bombed the camp for four more days, which Crosby and his family amazingly survived. Crosby was eventually able to return to the United States, regained his health, continued his education and eventually joined the Navy.

We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the Ex-POWs this year for the loss of their Commander, Frank Burger, who was a WWII Prisoner of War in Germany. Frank was lost on the day before the event to a terminal illness. During the event the museum chose to dedicate their Fallen Soldier Table to Mr. Burger for his service, his sacrifice and the his continued love and camaraderie he provided his fellow POWs following his time in the Armed Forces.

"Each year we become fewer and fewer," said Crosby. This year the invitation of the Pearl Harbor Survivors was in response to a dwindling of ranks among the Ex-POWs. Keep your ears open for upcoming events in which we are able to feature our WWII veterans.

The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park jumped 

into the Christmas spit on Charles Dickens' reimagined classic "A Christmas Carol" as part of the theatre's military-inspired grant initiative "Cygnet Serves". The production debuted on Thursday, November 3rd. This classic was uniquely staged in true Cygnet form, with creative stagecraft and live sound effects. The adaptation and lyrics were by Sean Murray, the score by Billy Thompson and the overall production by Sean Murray. This classic tale of redemption featured new music and even puppetry! Yes, we said puppetry!

This production was a Cygnet initiative to give back to the military and veteran community as part of "Cygnet Serves". The program, made possible in part by a James Irvine Foundation Exploring Engagement Fund Grant, was designed to give back to those who serve and have served both abroad as well as on the home front. Admittance to the show was free to active duty, veterans and their immediate family.

The heartfelt show pulled in a packed house for each night it showed and all who attended provided rave reviews. The standard of Cygnet preceded them and it was an easy thing to fall right into the Christmas spirit only a few days after Halloween. Keep an ear and eye out for more Cygnet Serves productions in the future, we are a proud community partner of this contemporary theatre and hope to bring you more from Cygnet in the future!    

Last month the museum got a real treat as it hosted Katie Turner as its "Artist in Residence" for the month of October! Turner has just earned her PhD in Drama and Theater and decided to bring her incredible host of talents into our fray for a month. Turner named her program "Improv for All" and hosted an improve workshop in the lower level of the museum on Tuesday evenings under our Arts Director, Anthony Lobue.

Turner began acting in high school and continued into acting education, earning a Bachelor's in Theater from Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. She trained mostly in comedic arenas, mainly with Durango Dot Comedy. She then eventually went on to pursue her Master's in Theatre History at the California State University in Northridge and then her PhD in Drama and Theatre. While still attaining her education she founded the the Clairemont Act One Community Theatre, a 501(c)3. Katie served as President and Artistic Director for three years before moving on to San Diego where she worked at local landmark theaters like The Old Glob e and The Cygnet Theatre. This month she's dedicated her EXTENSIVE amount of skill to help veterans and civilians alike find their inner actor! Turner's workshop just recently ended, but we hope to have her back to work with us on other projects! So keep your eyes peeled, stay tuned and get ready to find YOUR inner actor!