Dear Patrons, Members and Subscribers,

We hope everyone had a wonderful first month of the new year! We were proud to host another Music Night, which you can read about in our arts newsletter, Eagle Arts. We were also proud to host a very special red carpet event to honor World War II veteran and Korean War hero, CAPT Royce Williams USN (Ret). Williams was the subject of GI Film Festival favorite, "Forgotten Hero", which chronicled his solo fight against 10 Russian warfighter planes.   Ordered into silence, Williams' victory against incredible odds has been kept secret until now. A big thanks to all who came out and made this event so special. 

On January 27 we hosted a Celebration of Life Ceremony for our dear friend, RDML Rod Melendez USN (Ret). The ceremony included full military honors, with rifle volleys and presenting his immediate family with an official American flag. We were honored to have so many of his colleagues, friends and family come forward to share their special stories about Rod. His work ethic and true love of life, people and the museum was evident in every story told. We were especially grateful for the stories shared by his daughters, who possess his same jovial love of life. As his friend and office mate, I feel his absence very strongly each day. 

We've already had a great February, and look forward to kicking off March with a real bang! Take a look at some of our events for next month in the Museum News part of our newsletter.  

As always, I'd be remiss if I didn't thank all our volunteers and staff for the work they do to ensure our continuing success. Without volunteerism, we wouldn't be able to do what we do. 

                                                                                              
Captain Sheldon Margolis 
USN (Retired) 
President and CEO

  

What's going on at your museum? (Museum events or museum partners)
  
  • Feb. 15 - Continuing Health Education Series  
  • Feb. 23 - SDWVC Women Veterans Health Forum 
  • Feb. 24 - San Diego Enforcers first home game of 2018
  • Save the Date: Mar. 10 - USCG Academy Chorale Performance
  • Save the Date: Mar. 17 - San Diego Enforcers Military Appreciation Football Game
  • Save the Date: Mar. 21 - Dedication Ceremony for Rosie the Riveter Roses
This Month

Let's Get to the Heart of the Matter-Ongoing Health Education Series - Feb. 15 

If you are interested in learning more about your health and how to get healthier, then we suggest taking advantage of our continuing Juice Plus Health Education Series. This month you can join us at the museum at 6:30 PM, Feb. 15 for "Let's Get to the Heart of the Matter". 

 This month our speaker is nutritionist Ginger Carter. Carter specializes in autoimmue disorders with a focus on cancer and children's health. This event is FREE, but you will need to register to attend. We encourage our veteran community to come out and learn more about health and wellness! 

To register for this event go here:      REGISTER! 

Doors open at 6:30 PM, with presentation at 7 PM. This event is at the Veterans Museum at Balboa Park at 2115 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA, 92101. 
San Diego Women Veterans Coalition offers free Women Veterans Health Forum - Feb. 23
 

The forum is a n open discussion on the variety of services available for the whole health of  Women   Veterans  in San Diego.

Guest speakers will include:
Ms. Lindsey Sin, Deputy Secretary of Women Veterans for CALVet
Mr. Robert Smith, Director of the San Diego VA HealthCare System
Ms. Eva M. Belanger, Founder and Executive Director of WARRIORS LIVE ON
Ms. Jennifer Roberts, Women Veterans Program Manager, VA San Diego Healthcare System

They will be introducing a variety of health care options for the treatment of physical, mental, and emotional health to the  women  veterans of San Diego County.

Goals of the Forum :
1. To provide updated and relevant information regarding available healthcare services, benefits, and options to the women veterans of San Diego County
2. Introduce a variety of health care options for the treatment of physical, mental, and emotional health to the women veterans of San Diego County
3. Encourage women veterans of San Diego County to become more actively involved in their own health care advocacy

The forum is free to attend. Parking, lunch and a child activity for toddlers is included.  To RSVP, go to:  WomenVetsHealth
Last Month
Family and friends bid farewell to RDML Rod Melendez, USN (Ret.) with Celebration of Life Ceremony 
 
Porscha and Pilar, daughters of RDML Rod Melendez USN (Ret)
On January 27 the family and friends of RDML Rod Melendez USN (Ret). gathered at the museum to bid farewell to one of our community's finest during a Celebration of Life Ceremony. Many of Rod's closest friends and colleagues took turns sharing their fond memories of Melendez as a mentor, leader, friend and inspiration. Melendez's dedication to the museum was matched by few.


During his 11-year stint as the museum's executive director, Melendez helped to make the museum a place for not only the stories of military heroes, but for the arts. A lifetime supporter of opera, theater and music, Melendez enjoyed helping to bring the joy of the arts to our community's veterans. His love for life was evident in all that he did and touched all who knew him. His daughters shared their laughter and gratitude to all who came to provide their condolences and support. Melendez received full military honors for this event, with rifle volley and the playing of taps. Melendez's daughters were presented with a flag on behalf of their father's service to his great nation. 

We are deeply saddened to lose such a dear museum family member who was such a pivotal part of making the museum what it is today. We see our time with him as a precious gift that we are grateful for. He will be missed, but we seek to keep his legacy alive in our daily work to uphold the legacy of our nation's military heroes. Thank you to all who attended this wonderful event and shared in celebrating a very special life. 
VMBP hosts red carpet event for San Diego GI Film Festival favorite, "Forgotten Hero"

Jan. 20 we were hosted a VIP screening of the 2017 San Diego GI Film Festival favorite, "Forgotten Hero of the Forgotten War". This red carpet event was a continuing tribute to war hero, US Navy Capt. Royce Williams (Ret). 

Attacked and well outnumbered by Russian "MiG's", Williams was able to bring down many of them and live to tell the tale. Although, he had to wait 50 years to do so. "Forgotten Hero" finally shares his story. 

The film was followed by a talkback panel of director, actors and fellow war heroes. We were proud to host this event and bring recognition to a true war hero. Williams is a WWII veteran and at the age of 92, has been put in for the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Korean War.

For more info on CAPT Williams, see the story NBC aired:  Royce Williams
Museum News!
U.S. Coast Guard Academy Chorale to perform on March 10

In a unique opportunity for San Diego, and for the first time ever, the United States Coast Guard Academy Chorale will give a special performance at the Veterans Museum on Saturday, March 10.  The 16-member chorale is comprised of men and women cadets at the Academy and is under the direction of Dr. Robert Newton. 
 
Several sub-groups  (all male, all female, and quartet) of the chorale will also be featured in the hour-long performance.
 
Members of the Chorale are chosen from the Academy's Corps of Cadets 60 member Glee Club following a rigorous audition.   The group specializes in patriotic music and traditional songs of the sea.  They routinely tour the country to bring their music to countless audiences-both civilian and military.  They have been featured at Disney World, the Senior Bowl, the Super Bowl, the Rose Bowl, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and have performed at numerous Presidential Inaugurations.  Their military performances include the Joint Chiefs of Staff and many other USCG-related audiences and functions. 
VMBP first in the nation to boast Rosie the Riveter Roses, dedication ceremony on "Rosie the Riveter Day"
March 21

Rosie the Riveter Roses are a beautiful sunset color. 
Recently we were honored to put some new roses in our  rose garden, named after some really special ladies, World War II's Rosie the Riveters! This is the official rose of the " Rosie the Riveter Memorial Garden", and will soon begin to debut in veteran memorial gardens across the nation. VMBP was honored to be the FIRST organization to plant the roses in their memorial rose garden! We were honored to be the first and to have the opportunity to showcase these beautiful blooms and what they represent at our museum. 
  


Rosie the Riveter Roses are officially in the ground at VMBP! 
Join us on March on "Rosie the Riveter Day" at noon f or the official dedication ceremony our Rosie the Riveter Roses. We will honor our community's Rosies, along with all our WWII veterans who leant to our nation's success during World War II. A big thank you to Linda Laurie, Spirit of '45 National Coordinator and 
Rosie the Riveter Memorial Rose Gardens Project Manager, for making sure the VMBP became a part of this important national project. Balboa Park will also feature six of the Rosie Roses in their rose garden. 

Would you like to learn more about this national Rosie the Riveter Roses project? Click below! 

Football in the spring? San Diego Enforcers first game is Feb. 24!  

Did you know that we have a semi-pro football team here in San Diego? And those football players are law enforcement, first responders and active duty military. They play full-contact football and raise money for charity. This year's charities are United Cerebral Palsy and Honor Flight San Diego.

Come out on Feb. 24 as the Enforcers take on the Bakersfield Falcons. The first game is at Cathedral Catholic High School and kick-off is at 5 pm. For more information about the Enforcers, go to: Enforcers Football


San Diego's Padres are calling all singers!  

The Padres are accepting recordings from active duty, reservists, retirees, veterans, and military spouses or military children who are interested in singing the National Anthem and/or God Bless America at an upcoming Padres Sunday Military Appreciation home game. 

Interested individuals should send a recording of themselves performing the traditional version of the National Anthem and God Bless America a capella. The recording can be simply recorded on a smart phone and then emailed directly to Mia Spano by Feb. 28th , 2018. 

The National Anthem can be no longer than one minute and fifteen seconds ( 1:15 ) and God Bless America can be no longer than one minute ( 1:00 ).

Please send the recording with Name, Phone #, Mailing Address, E-Mail Address and a brief bio/story about themselves and military life to mspano@padres.com
Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW) 

Dear Eagle Reader,

I ask you to consider joining our San Diego Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars. As an active duty, reserve, retired, or former commissioned officer in the US military services, PHS, or NOAA, you are eligible to join.  Also, if you are a descendant of an officer or an officer's immediate family member, you are eligible.

Who are we and how do we serve others? 
We are a non-political, patriotic Veterans Service Organization (VSO) centered on the idea embodied in its motto that "It is nobler to serve than to be served." The Military Order's founding in 1919 resulted from General of the Armies John J. "Blackjack" Pershing's request that his officers continue serving America after their active military service ended.

Consequently, MOWW promotes and encourages good citizenship, patriotic education, and military and public service. MOWW serves America's youth by hosting Youth Leadership Conference (YLC) programs throughout the United States at no cost to high school students. MOWW also sponsors awards programs for Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and Junior ROTC cadets (JROTC), the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), and the Girl Scouts of the USA (GS-USA). Specifically, we recognize Eagle Scouts at Courts of Honor as well as attending Eagle Scout Recognition Dinners.

Another major event sponsored annually is the Massing of the Colors. It is a patriotic ceremony to rededicate our faith in the colors of the United States and to pledge our support to those Colors and of the Servicemen and women those Colors represent. It combines the colors and color guards of Active and Reserve Component military units, veterans' organizations, civic and patriotic organizations. The Massing originated with The Society of the Massing of the Colors, which was organized on Armistice Day, 1922, by distinguished military officers, veterans and civic leaders. MOWW sponsors these ceremonies nationwide.

Additionally, MOWW formally honors those who excel in the national security, homeland security, and law and order. The San Diego Chapter was founded in 1926. We meet monthly offering a variety of program themes and activities mentioned above throughout the year.
We are a group of patriotic US Federally commissioned officers (active duty, retired and former) from all uniformed services, our spouses and descendants. 
Let us know how to serve you!  Thank you.

Sincerely,
George T. "Ted" Parsons, CDR, USN (Ret)
Commander, San Diego Chapter

If you would like to learn more about MOWW, please check out the website at:  MOWW
What's new this month in Homeland Magazine? 

You won't want to miss the full story about San Diego's only semi-pro football team!  Or, do you know what the best job in the Navy is? There's so much more too. Just check out this month's edition.

Not only does Homeland feature inspiring stories but also resources, support and inspiration to veterans, service members, and the families who keep it all together.

Homeland is a San Diego veteran trusted resource reaching over 200,000 San Diego veterans, active duty, military families & 3.5 million nationwide.

Homeland is promoted and visible through our collaborative partners (The top veteran & military organizations in the country through print, social media, newsrooms, TV, Radio, summits & conferences). They are honored to share the work of so many committed and thoughtful people.

Know someone who would like to see this email?
To donate to the museum:
The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park, 2115 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101
| (619)239-2300 | info@veteranmuseum.org | www.veteranmuseum.org