About Us
The Veterans Memorial Center, Inc. was formed in March 1989 to create,
maintain and operate an institution to honor and perpetuate the memories of all men and women
who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
The Veterans Museum & Memorial Center was chartered to serve five
categories of function:
- Serve as a host to programs that perpetuate the memories of deceased
veterans or members of the United States Armed Forces and to comfort their survivors.
- Serve as a home for programs for charitable, scientific, literary or
educational purposes that promote public awareness concerning the sacrifices and
contributions of men and women who serve and have served in the Armed forces.
- Serve as a venue for services and social and recreational activities for
veterans, active duty personnel, and the general public, which are compatible with other
purposes of the Veterans Museum & Memorial Center.
- Serve as a the regular meeting place for many of the San Diego region's
veterans and active-duty military organizations.
- Serve as a museum presenting permanent, rotating and visiting exhibits
of patriotic, military and war-related memorabilia, artifacts, photographs, and other
artwork.
The site chosen for the location of the Veterans Museum & Memorial Center
was the former San Diego Naval Hospital Chapel at Inspiration Point in Balboa Park, part of a
complex of architecturally significant buildings with rich historical connections to the San
Diego region's naval heritage.
Museum Hours
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Board of Directors
Will Hays, Chairman of the Board
Rear Admiral Rod Melendez, USN/Ret., Executive Director
| Directors |
Jennifer Albers
Richard Annen
Joe Brunner
Aurora Cudal
Will Hays
Harry Kaplan
Robert Krone, Ph.D.
Neal Leonard
Rod Melendez |
Allen Miliefsky
Gary Parks, Ph.D.
Tom Richards
Ron Ritter
Dennis Schoville
Abe Shragge, Ph.D.
Robert Cardenas (Emeritus)
Robert Cox (Emeritus) |
Rear Admiral Rod Melendez, USN/Ret.
Executive Director Veterans Museum and Memorial Center
Volunteers
Tim Smith, American Legion
Docent Coordinator |
Pearl Harbors Survivors Association
Docent Volunteers |
American Merchant Marines
Docent Volunteers |
Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 472
Docent Volunteers |
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Docent Volunteers |
Fleet Reserve Association 312
Docent Volunteers |
Air Force Sgts Association
Docent Volunteers |
American Legion
Docent Volunteers |
UCSD Academic Internship Program
Docent Volunteers |
