CALL FOR STORIES: Schooling with Uncle Sam
Posted: November 22, 2020 Filed under: Events, Memories, Military Family Museum, museum news, Schooling with Uncle Sam 2 CommentsFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
On October 14, 2021, the Museum of the American Military Family will observe the 75th anniversary of the opening of Defense Department Dependents Schools in Europe and the Far East by releasing a commemorative anthology, “SCHOOLING WITH UNCLE SAM.”
The anthology will not focus on the school system history or governing policies but on personal memories–what it was like to work or study in the school system, to live and work in a foreign country or military installation and move from year to year to another country or state – the mundane, funny, or tragic events and interactions that made for a memorable experience. Stories should be about a certain time, event, or experience about school/work/life with DoDEA (or with its predecessor organizations such as DoDDS, USDESEA, DEG, etc.)
This is a chance to preserve a unique history and to be a part of it. It’s an opportunity to share a personal look at a world-wide school system serving America’s world-wide interests and assuring that your involvement with it will be recognized.
Your story should be first-person and can be as long or short as you choose. Please also consider including black-and-white photos to help illustrate your memoir. You can submit up to three different pieces for the book.
Authors included in the anthology will receive a free copy of the book in lieu of payment. All stories become the property of the Museum of the American Military Family Special Collections Library. Proceeds from the sale of the book will be used to help the Museum continue to bring exhibits and programming to the museum community free of charge.
Story suggestions … a unique classroom, your daily commute to school, your host nation neighborhood, a military “incident” in or around school, a favorite host nation restaurant or field trip experience, a celebrity or high ranking or local dignitary visiting your school, something funny at school. Or an event memorable to you.
You need not be an accomplished writer to participate. MAMF will provide minor editing to sharpen your contribution.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, July 2, 2021. The anthology will be released at a public anniversary observance in October of 2021.
To submit a story, or for more information, please e-mail the submissions to OlsonAllen@msn.com.
To learn more about the museum visit the website: www.militaryfamilymuseum.org and follow us on FB http://www.facebook.com/MuseumoftheAmericanMilitaryFamily.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SOME REMARKABLE MEMORIES!
Unclaimed Cremated Remains of 29 Deceased Veterans Interred on September 24, 2020 at the Santa Fe National Cemetery
Posted: September 25, 2020 Filed under: Appreciation, Events, God and Country, Healing, Service, Veterans Leave a comment
SANTA FE–The cremated remains of twenty-nine military veterans who, upon their deaths were unclaimed by family members, were laid to rest with military honors today at the Santa Fe National Cemetery in a special 2020 Forgotten Heroes Funeral.
Due to COVID-19 protective health measures, the funeral was a private event attended by New Mexico Department of Veterans Services (DVS) Secretary Judy Griego, New Mexico Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Ken Nava, Santa Fe National Cemetery Interim Director Jennifer Dehorty, and a handful of staff members from DVS and Daniels Family Funeral Services of Albuquerque—all of whom were wearing protective masks and observed social distancing.
The entire service was videotaped and will be posted next week on the DVS website. Governor Michele Lujan Grisham delivered a videotaped eulogy, praising the fallen veterans for their sacrifice on behalf of all Americans.
“We are forced to host this ceremony virtually, but that should not diminish our effort to provide these veterans the ‘final salute’ they earned through their service to our country,” said the Governor. “This may be called the Forgotten Heroes Funeral, but these heroes, today, are not forgotten. May the souls of these 29 men rest now and forever in peace.”
Daniels Family Funeral Services donated the urns and also hosted a brief memorial service prior transporting the urns to the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Of the 29 veterans—all of them male—25 were from Bernalillo County, and four from Otero County. They were provided the formal military funeral through the Forgotten Heroes Burial Program. This collaborative effort between the state and all thirty-three counties in New Mexico ensures that any honorably discharged deceased veteran whose body goes unclaimed by family members receives a military funeral at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.
The program was created in 2009 through an initial collaboration with Bernalillo County, which sought assistance to help lay to rest—with honor–the cremated remains of its unclaimed deceased veterans. It was the first state-led collaborative effort in the nation to ensure that unclaimed deceased honorably discharged veterans receive a military funeral.
Interred with full military honors at today’s funeral were the following 25 veterans from Bernalillo County:
USAF Pvt. Adrian San Jose Christain Aarons (Date of death: 5/23/19)
U.S. Army (rank undetermined) Lionel Eugene Austin (12/31/18)
USAF A1C Robert Bell (8/23/18)
U.S Navy SA John D. Brant (12/31/17)
Army SP4 Dobbins D. Brown (8/10/18)
U.S. Coast Guard PO1 Richard Lee Bryson (1/31/18)
Army (rank undetermined) Jimmy Edward Chavez (2/25/18)
Army (rank undetermined) Fredrick Finfrock (3/19/19)
USAF MSgt. Arnold Alvin Fischer (9/14/18)
Army (rank undetermined) Horatio C. Flores (9/10/18)
USMC (rank undetermined) Bruce Charles Fox (2/1/19)
Navy (rank undetermined) Gregory Ayala Garcia (5/14/18)
Coast Guard PO3 Hugh Kenneth Gilmour (9/4/18)
Navy (rank undetermined) Fred Louis Hernandez (10/24/18)
USMC (rank undetermined) Perry Lee Hiner (6/11/18)
Army PFC Rafael Jesus Hinojosa (12/29/18)
USAF (rank undetermined) Jimmy Wayne Mattison (5/4/18)
Army PFC Gary W. Moore (7/16/18)
Army PFC Carlos Pinkston (4/30/18)
Navy SA Larry Wayne Reckard (7/3/18)
Army (rank undetermined) Don Anthony Saavedra (12/31/18)
USAF (rank undetermined) Herdia Luke Shell (9/25/18)
Army SP4 Darryl Howard Shrader (6/15/18)
USAF SSgt James Arthur Stevens (3/11/19)
USAF (rank undetermined) Hugh Godwin Vann II (9/22/18)
Interred today from Otero County:
USMC Cpl Earl Brubaker (3/27/17)
Navy P3 Elbert Stocks (3/13/18)
Army PVT Richard Wolfe (6/12/18)
USAF TSgt Buddy Milford (3/6/17)
Today’s funeral featured a flag-fold ceremony and 21-Rifle Volley performed by the New Mexico National Guard Honor Guard. Adjutant General Nava presented the folded American Flag used in the service to DVS Secretary Griego, who accepted it on behalf of Governor Lujan Grisham and the citizens of New Mexico.
Story: Ray Seva