Dear Friend of the Hornet,

Having served on the front lines of history from WWII to the space age and beyond, the USS Hornet has seen battle, faced adversity, overcome setbacks, and triumphed over all. Now, however, in her eighth decade, she is facing her biggest challenge of them all – staying afloat, staying relevant, and staying open as the USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum. She needs your help in this mission.

Few ships in the can match the varied ac- complishments of the USS Hornet CVS 12. She was launched during the height of WWII to replace her fallen namesake and sister ship, USS Hornet CV 8 - the ship that saw the Doolittle Raiders depart for , participated in the and was lost during the Battle of the Santa Cruz. Hornet CVS 12 served with distinction in the Cold War and supported crucial operations to guard freedom and democracy.

Her last assignments were to be the recovery ship for the historic and mis- sions to the moon. The first men to set foot on the moon walked the decks of the USS Hornet immediately upon their return from space. She hosted and enthralled the world as she played her part in these historic moments.

More somber days loomed for USS Hornet as she was decommissioned shortly after her Apollo glory days. In 1970, USS Hornet spent many years awaiting a return to duty among the other ships in the Ghost Fleet. That call came in 1996 when dedicated volunteers rescued her from becoming scrap metal and began the long and arduous work of returning the USS Hornet to her rightful place in history as the USS Hornet Museum. The USS Hornet is now a Registered Na- tional Landmark!

For over 20 years, she has been sustained by a small staff and a corps of dedicated volunteers. The USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum has been an eagerly attended destination for tens of thousands of school children, innumerable Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Sea Scouts, and communi- ty groups seeking to know more about a time when the technological marvel that is a US Naval outshines the technology of their iPhones.

Please Turn Over...

" " USS Hornet Museum Donation (please print all information) Name Check # Address Credit or Debit Card City/St/Zip # Telephone Expires CVV Email Signature $500 $250 $100 $50 $25 $10 Other _____ Now a new, and possibly the Hornet’s most significant challenge looms. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced her to close to the public for an indefinite period. This has threatened her supply line of scarce but vital revenue. That supply line must be replenished through the contributions by people such as you who know deep in your heart that the now renamed USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum matters to history and to the future.

Please join me by making the most generous donation you can possibly afford. Donations of any amount are welcome and appreciated. I pledge to you, every dollar donated will be used as efficiently as possible to not only help the museum overcome its next challenge but to put it on a path to long-term fiscal stabil- ity.

Please use the enclosed envelope to make your donation today. Or, for a more immediate and crucial re- sponse, donate safely and securely online on our website (www.uss-hornet.org) where you can also learn more about our day-to-day operations and programs.

Thank you for your heartfelt consideration of my request on behalf of the USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum. You will not regret your tax-deductible investment in this worthy cause.

Sincerely,

Capt. Mark Epperson, (Naval Reserve, Ret.) Executive Director [email protected] (510) 521-8448

PS: Museums thrive on partnerships with significant benefactors, foundations, and corporate sponsors. If you can connect us to any such person or entity that believes in the important mission of the USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum, please contact me directly.

USS Hornet Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Our Employer Identification Number is 94-3226801

www.uss-hornet.org

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