President’s Report- January 2025
This is my first attempt of a Presidents report for my term as President for the 2025-26 season of the Armed Forces Heritage Museum. Stay tuned for more to come. There is so much to be done and I feel very confident that I will have the support of the Membership. It will be an interesting ride with the upcoming 250th Anniversary of the Revolutionary War. Hopefully we can all participate in the activities and get our brand out to the public.
In the past we have discussed having speakers at our monthly meetings and I will try to have one every month, if anyone has ideas of someone who would be good just let me know and we can set it up.
Our speaker set up for our February membership meeting is Captain Allison Cox, Commander of the East Coast Strike Force of the US Coast Guard. Her unit has a very unique Mission in protecting America. A story all will enjoy.
Our speaker for March membership meeting schedule is Carol Murphy Majority Whip for the NJ Assembly. She has agreed to give us an update on what is happening in the Statehouse and ideas she has for the future of our State. I am sure we will have an opportunity for a Q and A session after.
January 5 Sandra Conville and Marvel Carrol went with me to the Battle of Princeton reenactment at Princeton Battlefield Park. Mike Russell President Emeritus of the Battlefield Trust is an Honorary Commander with me in the 87th Air Wing at Joint Base MDL. We arranged with him for the AFHM to present a wreath in memory of the Soldiers lost in that battle. I got a chance to speak to the large group and announce the AFHM. Mike is working to get us attached to the group “The ten crucial Days” which includes over a thousand patriots involved with Historical preservation in our area. This will get us included in their social media distribution including the website announcing our Museum. Next year if the weather permits I will probably take the mobile Museum because everyone is outside in the freezing cold anyway and we would have seen hundreds of people stop by as they waited for the reenactment to start. It will be a great opportunity for us long term. It was definitely a 2 Carhartt coat day, chill factors were as low as -10 with some of the wind gusts.
Please make plans to attend the opening day roll out of “The Right To Fight” series Honoring Black History Month on Feb. 1 at the Burlington County Historical Society Campus. Check the website for details. Bob Von Bargen and Ron Hathaway have spent hundreds of hours on interviews and production of the videos that will be posted throughout February on our website and social media.
Exciting news came from Bob Dutko about our Feb. 1 roll out for Black History month. Bob asked the NJ Adjutant General, General Yvonne Mays to be the opening speaker at the BCHS for us. This will be a huge enhancement for the program put together by Bob Von Bargen and Ron Hathaway. This will be a great presentation and we need our members to trry and attend to support all their hard work.
I met with the Commander of Joint Base MDL, Colonel Anthony Smith to present him our plans for Black History month, he is very excited about the whole idea. He will do his best to attend the Feb. 1 roll out. He has asked us to bring the videos to the Base on a date TBA to show in one of his planned events. Col. Smith was already planning a skit on Jackie Robinson and when he saw that it was on our schedule for later in the month he wants to tie it all together. This will be great for us in getting our message of support for the Military in our area. His aid took our handout and will post it on the Base Communication network for all to see. I will be asking the Colonel later in the year to speak at one of our General Membership meetings, he is a good Friend and an inspiring dynamic leader.
I had a meeting with Meredith Barnes Historian from the NJEA. She can orchestrate presentations for us in school districts all over the area. This needs to be developed by putting together a program of interest that will touch the Students we interact with. More thought need to be put in to the plan but now we have a way in. I am also inviting her to become an active member, she is a reenactor and knows Dr. Colin Zimmerman.
Meredith also has a Friend who is a 1975 Vietnamese refugee who likes to do presentations about being thankful for the American participation in the Vietnam War. We will work together to use her as a Saturday speaker or a membership meeting speaker. Stay tuned for more on those plans.
Dr. Colin Zimmerman has completed his Doctorate studies and will take back over his Historian role in the Museum. He has many great new ideas to help move us forward towards the 250th celebration of the Revolutionary War. We are also anxiously awaiting the return of our Friend Rich Hill who has been out fighting medical issues. Dr. Z and Rich make a great team with their tremendous knowledge of history in our area.
Dr. Zimmerman (Dr. Z) has agreed to speak at our April General Membership meeting and educate us on the local battles in the Bordentown, Burlington, Crosswicks and Chesterfield area during the Rev. War. His knowledge of details amazes me and you will agree after his talk.
We also discussed him hosting a Saturday Speaker series in conjunction with the BCHS, we will set up a date with Lisa and finalize plans.
Please feel free to reach out with any ideas or issues and lets make the 250th Anniversary of the Revolutionary War an event to remember
Thank you,
Bryan Branson
President
Armed Forces Heritage Museum