Presidents Report September 2026
Presidents report for September 2026:
This is a reminder that our Annual Fundraiser Dinner on November 7, 2026 is coming up fast. Everyone should have received an invitation, if not let me know and we will make sure you get one. We are honoring Don Cammus for his many years as our Volunteer Chief Financial Officer, and all-around volunteer for anything and everything he can help with. We will need support from the organization to make the evening a success. Please support this event by buying a dinner ticket, placing a booster, or advertising in the memorial booklet.
3 pickup truck loads of items donated by Amazon were given to the “Attic” at JBMDL in our name. This will continue as items become available to us and I will make sure that SMSgt. Crystal Malsom, Jackie and the rest of the team of volunteers get them out to the Military folks in need of the support. Do not forget if you have items to donate that you send pictures and contact phone number to jbmdlatticdb@gmail.com This system works very well thanks to the volunteers at the attic.
We attended the Adventure Crossing event at Lake Juliana on August 22, 2026. It was a fun event supporting Special Needs citizens, Military and Veterans. We made many contacts and our presence did not go unnoticed. Vito Cardinale(the sponsor) and I talked over lunch last week and he wants the trailer there on the day before so we can be right up front where all the programs take place and next to the pizza oven!!!
I attended the NJ National Guard youth camp fund raiser at the Bordentown Armory. I helped serve food and donated $50 in the name of the AFHM. The youth camp funding was cut nationwide so they need to hold events year around in order to provide lunches to the attendees.
On September 11, 2026, we were present at the Chesterfield Twp. 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony. The South Jersey SEWA Organization put together a wonderful program, and we were proud to be part of it. Colonel Kevin White, Commander of the 514th Air Wing and his beautiful family were there and he shared his remembrance of that day with us. I also shared my memory of the day and the months after. I have attached my comments to share. I cannot emphasize how much the SEWA Organization gives to the community. I have made arrangements for a guided tour the beautiful BAPS Hindu Temple in Robbinsville. The dated will be announced soon for interested members.
A group of us spent three different days at the Lawrence House writing the GOS Grant request in hopes of receiving operating expense dollars from the State through Burlington County. Stand by, hopefully we will be successful.
On Sept. 12, 2026, we attended the 514th Airlift Wing family picnic at Doughboy Field on Fort Dix. We had the Mobile Museum there and made lots of new friends. The 514th welcomed us and fed us all the hot dogs we could eat, and root beer floats we could drink. I have received thank you notes from the leadership of the group for supporting them. I am sure we will be asked back next year.
Later the same day, we moved the trailer to the 87 Air Base Wing Fall Festival at Pudgy’s Sports Pub on McGuire. The Fall Festival had music, a beer garden, food trucks, petting zoo, bounce houses, kids rides etc. The crowd was huge and we pulled out just as it got dark. They were expecting about 5,000 people at the event and it looked bigger than that. It was a very well-organized event and real treat for the Military and their families. We donated a few skateboards at each event and got some recognition for that. They were donated to us, so we passed them on to our freedom fighters.
On Sept 17, 2026, we had the Mobile Museum at Mercer County Community College to celebrate Constiution Day with the students and faculty. The History Department is studying the “10 Crucial Days” so this was perfect for them.
Weather permitting, we have a Mobile Museum event at Princeton Battlefield for Young Patriots Day on Sept. 20, 2026. I spoke with Mike Russell and Marc Dowdell from the
Princeton Battlefield Trust and the start time is 1000. We will take the trailer up at 0900 and set up. The Battlefield is on Princeton Pike going North off Rt 295. The Battlefield entrance is on the right just after you cross the stone bridge. GPS the Clarke House Museum.
I am on the Committee for the Birdies for the Brave outing on October 19, 2026. It is a nice event and one we will need support for.
50/50 sales need to be pushed hard to reach our goal this year. Please return the 5 ticket stubs that were sent through the mail, and if you need more tickets, please let us know. This is our Major fund raiser, and folks are working hard at selling so please give us a hand.
Respectfully submitted,
Bryan Branson
