President's Message
by Frank Drain

Spring, 2002

The annual meeting of the 390th Memorial Museum Foundation Board of Directors was held on March 2, 2002 at the museum in Tucson. Congratulations to our latest board member, Mary Truitt. Mary is the daughter of 390th Veteran Bill Pennebaker, and is an executive for an oil company in Big Spring, Texas. Mary will be an outstanding addition to the board, and has already volunteered to organize a Foundation gathering at the museum this summer. By now, you should have received details regarding this event, to be held in June. The board also welcomed Grace Hammesfahr, who was representing Margaret Blagg, the newly designated representative of the 95th Bomb Group. Margaret has served on our board previously, and has an extensive background in museum management.

The following slate of officers was approved to serve 2-year terms:

Frank Drain, President

Mary Truitt, First Vice-President

John Warner, Second Vice-President

Bob Ginn, Treasurer

Allan Moller, Secretary

The endowment matching fund program set up by Dorothy Moller has resulted in significant growth to our fund. Thanks to everyone who has contributed, and of course, to Dorothy Moller for her continued support and generosity. Anyone who is considering a contribution to the 390th MMF in the near future should take advantage of this program. This is an opportunity that will continue through December 1st of this year, 2002.

Hank Plume, our 390th Veteran’s representative, had made a suggestion in Omaha that we have a Foundation Meeting at the Harrisburg reunion, to include anyone who is a member of the Foundation. Previously we have focused only on descendants for these meetings, to the exclusion of veterans and others who are members of the Foundation. The board recognized this as an excellent suggestion, and proposed that such a meeting be held, to be designated as a General Membership Meeting of the Foundation.

Hopefully, many of you will attend either the June event at the museum, or the Harrisburg reunion. Personal relationships forged and strengthened at such events help make our organization grow and become stronger. Please become active members of the 390th family!