Nimitz News Dispatch Brought to You in Partnership by the Admiral Nimitz Foundation and National Museum of the Pacific War
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A PROPERTY OF THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION FOURTH QUARTER 2020 Nimitz News Dispatch Brought to you in partnership by the Admiral Nimitz Foundation and National Museum of the Pacific War. Honoring the Past and Embracing the Future ANF Welcomes New With the end of the year comes not only looking back but also planning Board Members and moving forward. Each challenge that the Admiral Nimitz Foundation And says thank you to three men encountered this year was met with the gumption of our forefathers - the drive who have helped mold ANF and the to rise above. As we move into 2021, we are introducing several projects that NMPW into what is it today. directly result from the main challenge delivered by 2020, how to reach a STORY ON PAGE 6 changing world while preserving the past. If you have been to Fredericksburg, Paying Tribute to Pearl Harbor you have seen the Historic Nimitz Hotel (pictured right), standing proud with its “I woke up in a world I wasn’t born “steamboat” façade welcoming you to in.” - Pearl Harbor Survivor Main Street. Just as the outside of the Discover how the NMPW honors building is an icon to visitors worldwide, those who were impacted by the Ballroom just inside its doors has been December 7, 1941. cherished by generations of locals. From STORY ON PAGE 11 weddings and proms to celebrations of life and victory, the Nimitz Ballroom has been and will continue to be intertwined into some of life’s most memorable moments for thousands of people. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: In February of 2020, the newly GENERAL’S ADDRESS 2 renovated Admiral Nimitz Gallery EDUCATION REPORT 4 was opened to the public. With the completion of this project, the KIDS CORNER 8 Foundation turned its attention HEROES ARE STANDING BY: THE PACIFIC MEDALS OF HONOR 10 to the gem housed just a few feet from the gallery’s doors, the Nimitz Ballroom. A review of the Ballroom’s extensive history was completed this past summer and it was decided that the most significant event in the 19th century occurred on October 13, 1945, when Fleet Admiral Nimitz was honored with a gala dinner in the Ballroom (photo above). With pictures from that time and a forensic architect’s investigative help, information has been gathered to accurately return the Ballroom to 1945 grandeur. Preliminary work on the floor We Insprire Our Youth by has revealed the hotel’s original well, now excavated to 15 feet. The Foundation Honoring Our Heroes plans to expand the space to its 1945 dimensions, recreate the intricate wall stenciling, and install a beautiful pine floor which will elate dancing feet for generations to come. (Continued Pg. 9) PacificWarMuseum.org NimitzFoundation.org Admiral Nimitz Foundation FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT 2020 Board of Directors AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE Officers ADMIRAL NIMITZ FOUNDATION Case D. Fischer, Chairman Robert B. Phelps, Vice Chairman Dear Members, General Michael W. Hagee, USMC (Ret) President and Chief Executive Officer Like everyone else, we are glad to see 2020 in our Nancy L. Dreher, Secretary Ronald L. Woellhof, Treasurer rearview mirror! We are also hopeful about the latter part of 2021 with the approval of the Covid-19 vaccines. Directors David Q. Bates, Jr. The team here continues to do an outstanding job. Theirs dedication Elizabeth G. Boldrick Kenneth L. Burenga and focus have ensured the Museum remains open with our visitors VADM William D. Crowder, USN (Ret) safe and our virtual educational programs continuing. We have Nancy L. Dreher learned a great deal over the past year that will help us regardless of Andrea Feiler Case D. Fischer what happens in 2021. David D. Fitch John E. Harris We believe the start of 2021 will look a great deal like the last half of Steven L. Highlander 2020. That is, timed Museum admissions with virtual programming. John L. Nau, III However, we have developed event driven options and are ready Bruce Nichols Robert B. Phelps to react as the situation changes in response to increased vaccine Mark A. Roche availability and vaccinations. Greg Shrader CAPT Michael B. Tatsch, USN (Ret) We upgraded our technology in 2020 permitting us to continue to Robert F. Wheless grow our distance learning in 2021. We also started the renovation of Ronald L. Woellhof the Nimitz Ballroom in the Historic Nimitz Hotel. Directors Emeriti Ann Brey Although reduced on-site visitation continues to challenge us John R. Goodwillie financially, your continued strong support has placed us in much Barbara Schmidt Heinen Bruce H.C. Hill better position than many other museums throughout the U.S. Our Steven K. Howell most heartfelt thanks for this dedication and trust. LTG Neal T. (Tom) Jaco, USA (Ret) John Kerr Thank you for your continued support and belief in our mission. I R. Bruce LaBoon CAPT Thomas H. Murray, Jr., USNR (Ret) look forward to seeing you in 2021 and hope you had a joyous and Gordon E. Sauer blessed Holiday Season. John Schrock, Sr. Roy E. Stroeher Best Craig L. Symonds, Ph.D. Mike Hagee Honorary Trustees General Billy J. Boles, USAF (Ret) U.S. Senator John Cornyn U.S. Senator Ted Cruz Thank you for your generosity in support The Honorable Gordon England of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation and the James D. Hornfischer National Museum of the Pacific War! We Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison would also like to extend a special thank you Marty Kaderli to the National Endowment for the Humanities Texas Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. (NEH) who awarded us a grant as part of the Woodrow F. (Woody) McCasland Helen McDonald 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Nancy Brown Negley Security (CARES) Act of 2020. All opinions, John P. Schneider, M.D. findings, conclusions, or recommendations George E. Seay, III expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. 2 FROM THE DESK OF THE EDUCATION DIRECTOR OF THE ADMIRAL NIMITZ FOUNDATION By Dr. David Shields Mission: Spread Holiday Cheer Was A Success The Education Department has been busy all With the knowledge that the holidays would look quite different December putting the final touches to our spring this year, the Foundation set out on programs. The uncertainty imposed by COVID-19 a mission to bring extra cheer and continues to require flexibility and resourcefulness by all members of the team. smiles to the community and visitors. And yet, in the midst of these challenges innovation and new ideas seem easier Weekends from December 4 to than before. At any rate, we are pleased knowing during 2020 that nearly 50,000 January 3, the Memorial Courtyard was adorned with lights and sounds people have viewed 200 digital museum programs via a multitude of social of the season. We estimate that over media platforms. This number also includes many thousands of students who 1,400 people took a stroll through the have beamed into our livestreaming TEKS and state-based curriculum lessons lit courtyard, and Santa even made from around the state the nation and the world. a few appearances! Books and board games were also gathered for Ft. Hood Our Museum Outreach Coordinator, Bryan Degner, elaborates on our Santa’s Workshop, a non-profit which Education digital programs: provides gifts to over 3,000 children of Active-duty Army families. Mark your Transformational is a great word to describe the impact that 2020 had calendar to come visit in 2021! on education outreach at the NMPW. This year forced education outreach out of its comfort zone due to the pandemic. We had to adjust quickly from sharing history face to face to a virtual experience. The forecast for 2021 for education outreach looks bright with the hope of onsite field trips returning and expanding digital programing. The one thing education outreach can’t do is to become complacent in 2021. Existing lessons will need to be examined and new programs created in order to share WWII history in the Pacific across the nation and around the world. Jeff Copsetta heads up our Living History Program and is senior leader in Have you enjoyed reading our digital programs. He provides the following plans for 2021: Reflections From Japan? For 2021 look for Living History at the Pacific Combat Zone like you’ve never David Krigbaum is a sailor and travel writer based in Okinawa, Japan. He’s seen it before! With some new artifacts in the Education Outreach Collection studied World War II since he was a as well as some much needed maintenance performed on our vehicles, we child but developed specific interests are looking ahead to continue to bring history to life with new programs and in the Battle of Bataan and the early activities for the entire family. days of the Pacific War after visiting Our successful Nimitz Minitz series will undergo a bit of rebranding with a Bataan and Corregidor in 2010. Since moving to Japan in 2015, he has been fresh new look and target audience. These new programs will feature a wide traveling the country from Hokkaido variety of topics from “This Day in Pacific War History” to women’s roles, to Okinawa visiting historic places, one minute with an artifact, and many other educational topics covered in 60 including WWII-related ruins and seconds. These may also serve as a companion piece to some of our Distance museums, and writing about the Learning programs. experiences on his history and travel website, Wayfarer Daves. He thanks We will continue our efforts to maintain relevancy with our social media his wife Emi for her love and support audiences by offering varied Facebook Live programs.