From the Executive Director
by Tom Drugan

Summer, 2004

We are halfway through 2004 already and well into the triple digit temperatures of July. Sure, it’s a dry heat, but it is still HOT. People here generally stay out of the heat like folks elsewhere stay out of the rain. So attendance at your museum is very low. Many of our volunteers flee the heat as well and go to cooler climes until the more temperate weather of Fall descends upon us. This is our time for catching up on those projects that were set aside during the busy season.

One of these projects is the annual 390th Veterans Association reunion, September 7-12, 2004, which is being held in Tucson again this year. While most of the activities do not involve the museum, we must still be prepared for a higher volume of visitors during that week. While attending their reunion, many of the veterans will take advantage of their time here to come to the museum that honors their service and documents their courage and sacrifice so many years ago.

We are in the process of completing a display for those who became prisoners of war. The POW exhibit is expected to be ready for dedication on Thursday September 9. This display will tell the story of the captivity of 731 men of the 390th Bomb Group and will list the names of those incarcerated. Everyone will be invited to the dedication of this very moving exhibit. The Veterans Association is providing the design and funding for this most worthy project. This will be the most significant exhibit that we plan for 2004.

Another ongoing project is applying new paint to the floor of the hangar. The original paint is well worn and this task is somewhat past due. We are doing this job one large square (30 x 30 feet) at a time. This is a slow process, as exhibits must be relocated while the paint is applied and drying, therefore it will take some time to complete.

We have already started planning the next Museum reunion. The third annual reunion was held in mid April 2004 a time which proved to be very popular with those in attendance. For 2005 we are planning a mid-March event. This facilitates combining the volunteer appreciation dinner and the Board of Directors meeting with the reunion banquet. This is a great opportunity for our members to meet with the directors and volunteers, the people who really make their museum run. Please mark March 17-19 as tentative dates on your calendars now and plan to join us for the fourth annual foundation reunion.

We continue to actively seek new members. It seems we take two steps forward and one step back as we lose our valued veterans. This makes for slow growth and we hope all of you will continue to recommend membership in the foundation to all your friends and family.