History
History of the Institution and Its Home:
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 site chosen 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. In January 1992, VMC entered into a lease agreement with the City
of San Diego for a period of twenty-five years with an option to renew for twenty-five
additional years.
The Veterans Museum & Memorial Center's home--the former chapel
of the old Naval Hospital--was built during World War II. It is a beautiful neo-classical
Spanish Colonial/California Mission design with thick walls and a red tile roof, a style that
first took hold in San Diego during the Panama-California Exposition of 1915-16. Back then;
the world-famous architect Bertram Goodhue created the main plan for the Exposition that
included the buildings still gracing The Prado, just a short distance from the VMC. So popular
did this style prove to be that the Navy Department hired Goodhue to design what is today the
Marine Corps Recruit Depot along with several of the buildings at North Island Naval Air
Station. Although the great architect did not have a hand in the plans for the Naval Hospital
or the Naval Training Station (all of which took shape during the same period, the early 1920s),
his imprint on San Diego is indelible. One of the more alluring features of the old chapel is
an array of beautiful stained glass windows--nineteen in all--which were designed by San Diegan
Fred Wieland, whose work is found in many churches around the United States. Each window was
the gift of an organization, a group, a family, or an individual. Distinctive among these are
the Jewish War Veterans Window, the Good Shepherd Window, the Chaplains Window and the Nurses
Window. With these appealing features, the chapel easily became one of thee more admired and
nostalgic buildings of the entire complex.
In 1985, when the Navy began construction of its new hospital, the service
agreed to return all the land and buildings belonging to the old hospital to the City of San
Diego, at which point the City intended to demolish the old buildings--including the chapel!
San Diego's veterans took this as terrible news, especially those with memories--happy or sad--of
their beloved chapel. But they were not the only people interested in this wonderful structure;
other groups not inherently a part of the history of the building became interested to see if
they could obtain the chapel for their own purposes. Suddenly there was a surge of interest
in preserving the building.
The City relented, but opened the bidding to all interested civic groups
to present their concepts and plans for future use of thee building. Many competing ideas
surfaced, including using the building for a model railroad museum. Thanks to combined efforts
of a number of veterans' organizations in San Diego, and in particular the newly formed
United Veterans Council, the City Council voted in February 1987 voted to save the chapel
and negotiate a long-term lease with the United Veterans Council for its operation and
maintenance. It took five more years to settle the terms of the lease agreement; file
for federal and state tax exemption, and incorporate the Veterans Memorial Center Committee.
At long last, on November 10, 1991, a dedication ceremony was held at the chapel with a
special tribute for former City Councilman Ed Struiksma for his critical help during the
early phases of the institution's development.
The City and the VMC finalized the lease three months later, thus preserving
a historical landmark for the city as well as providing a fitting tribute to all American
veterans of military service. Since that time, through the selfless efforts of several
outstanding leaders--including Bob Cox, Mead Massa, Chet Swisher, Dom Frankville, Will Hays,
Bob Cardenas and Tom Splitgerber, to name only a few--the VMC has raised hundreds of thousands
of dollars to remodel and refurbish the Center, create a growing membership base, and build a
valuable collection of artifacts and memorabilia for display.
In March 1994 the Vietnam Veterans of America asked the Veterans Museum
& Memorial Center to accept the San Diego Peace Memorial that had stood since 1969 on
a site in Old Town owned by the Catholic Diocese of San Diego. When the Diocese sold the
property relocation of the memorial became imperative. Rededicated as the Vietnam Veterans
Peace Memorial on Memorial Day, 1996, to the memory of the San Diego County veterans who gave
their lives or remain missing from the Vietnam War, this poignant installation now stands at
the east entrance to the Museum. It is lighted at night and available for public viewing
and reflection twenty-four hours a day.
The Veterans Museum and Memorial Center Today
Today, the VMC serves five main categories of function:
A. 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;
B. 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;
C. 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 VMC;
D. as the regular meeting place for many of the San Diego region's
veterans and active-duty military organizations;
E. and as a museum presenting permanent, rotating and visiting exhibits
of patriotic, military and war-related memorabilia, artifacts, photographs, and other artwork.
