The Northern Recon Group is a group of
military vehicle collectors and restorers who have supported the
museum in the past and continue to do so.
Check their website by clicking the above
logo.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Museum
of the Forgotten Warriors and Library Center is dedicated to all
veterans.
TO
REMEMBER, RESPECT AND HONOR VETERANS
To all of our veterans:
Thank you for your
service
Welcome Home!!
And our Museum
continues to grow
VISIT US!
LOCATION
We are located in Yuba County in Northern California
We are east of the city of Marysville, and west of Beale
Air Force Base
Our address is:
5865 A Road
Marysville, CA 95901
Driving Directions from Sacramento
Take the I-5 North
To the 99 North
To the 70 North
Exit North Beale Road
Take North Beale to the East
Continue on North Beale Road Past Yuba College
Turn Right on A Road. There is a museum sign on the
corner of North Beale Road and A Road.
We are located near the end of A Road on the left hand
side.
HOURS
We are open every Saturday from 10am to
3pm as well as Thursday from 7pm - 9pm
Special Days to include:
Veterans Day
Memorial Day
Armed Forces Day
ADMISSION: No charge
OUR STORY
Where We Have Been
At the age of ten, Dann
Spear, founder of the Museum of the Forgotten Warriors, started
collecting military memorabilia, patches and photos from his friends to
whom he wrote while they served in the Viet Nam War. In 1965 he had a
dream of someday having a museum to honor veterans who served. He was
invited to a reunion of World War II Veterans of the "Flying
Tigers-AVG" who flew in China, and was given a photo from Tex Hill, a
squadron leader and fighter ace. It was signed "To my young friend,
Danny," and he included a note saying that he hoped the picture would
make a nice addition to his museum. As early as 1966, Dann's dream had
been formulated. Dann continued to collect personal photos and stories
from veterans, and set up display at conventions and museums.
Dann and his wife, Roberta,
moved to Marysville in 1977. In 1981, after displaying portions of his
collection throughout Northern California, he and his good friend, John
Showers, began work on what was to be the first museum building. The
official opening was in January, 1985, with Brigadier General Don
Matson in attendance as the guest speaker.
The response since the
opening has been tremendous, with a second and third wing added to the
museum between 1985 and 2003. The over 46,000 artifacts in it have
continued to grow. The items range from tanks, cannons, and
helicopters, to the oldest a relic, a remnant of a blanket from Colonel
Galbraith's great-grandfather, who had the blanket when he was captured
by the British in the Revolutionary War. Dann has a brick that was sent
to him by Master Sergeant Roscoe Presley, from a building that was
taken by the Americans from the Taliban during Operation Enduring
Freedom. All of the displays represent a personal tribute to each
person who has served our great nation throughout our history. Personal
letters to Dann from friends in Viet Nam are displayed as well as
uniforms, equipment, photos, papers and relics that have been dug up
from the ground after battle. He also has full sized mannequins dressed
in enemy uniforms.
The Museum of the Forgotten
Warriors continues to grow and now is established as a non-profit
corporation with a 501c(3) tax-exempt status. At the urging of many
people, Dann had decided to expand the museum once again and add a new
library center. Since 1985, Dann and Roberta have financed and built
the museum and additions without any financial aid or monetary
donations, and have kept it open to the public free of charge. Now that
the museum is tax-exempt, the museum Board of Directors may accept
donations to build the proposed 6000 square foot addition and library
center that will be overseen by its Board of Directors. The Board will
ensure that the museum remains an asset to Northern California, its
veterans and their families.
Where We Are Going
On Memorial Day 2007, the
museum had a groundbreaking ceremony for its new addition, a 6,000 sq
foot wing which will house exhibit space and a library center. For the
first time in its more than 20 years, the museum is accepting donations
specifically to fund this expansion. Please visit out EVENTS page to
see pictures of the groundbreaking and visit our SUPPORT page to see
how you can help us move into our next phase.
Our Board of Directors
and Staff
This photo shows the original Museum Board members during a
ceremony for a new display at the museum. In front of the Honor Guard
flag bearers from the local Veterans Group Posts, the original Board
members who started the museum's 501(c)3 share in the ceremony: Left to
right are: John Showers (Korean War Vet), Brandon Spear, Captain Carson
Spear (Iraqi War Vet), Ken Anderson, Dann Spear with shovel (Curator /
Founder), Roberta Spear, Don Schrader (Viet Nam War Vet), Vern Sorensen
(Viet Nam War Vet) and Col. Nicoll Galbraith (Desert Storm Vet), Not in
photo was Board member Edith Galbraith. The Board was formed in late
2006 and this ceremony took place in the Spring of 2007.
In Memory Colonel Nicoll F. Galbraith, M.
D.
July 13, 1932 - Apr 4, 2012
Colonel Nicoll F. Galbraith, M.
D. passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by
his family. He was 79 years of age. He considered it an honor and
privilege to serve this community as a physician for
many years. He was honored to serve in the military
as a physician also. He leaves behind his three
children Davis, Robert and Susan.
In Memory of Edith Galbraith,
board member and supporter.
In
memoriam of John Showers
Date
of Birth February 16, 1938 LaRue, Ohio
Date
of Death November 4, 2010 Yuba City, California
Interred
at Sacramento Valley National Military Cemetery Dixon, California
This
is John Showers who is the Museum's Secretary of the Board of
Directors. He is also very involved in fund raising and Donations. John
helped at the beginning of the original Museum building with his
construction equipment in 1983. He continued to take care of the
grounds, sealing and striping the parking lot through the years. He is
retired from construction and devoting and donating his time to the
museum. John is a Korean War veteran. He served on the USS Kawishiwi
AO-146 as a MMFN in the US Navy. He and his wife Pat live in Yuba City,
CA. Their son Roscoe Is a Master Sgt in the USAF Security Forces having
served 2 deployments to Afghanistan and 1 to Iraq. John also has a
granddaughter serving in Iraq. John is the Museum's first Board Member.
Vern Sorensen, Board
Member and Chairman of Construction / Repairs has been Volunteering at
the museum since 1992 for 17 years now, everything from memorial
services to the Chairing the Annual Veterans Potluck set
up. He is also a docent at the museum. Vern helps homeless
and in need Veterans as Chairman of the Yuba Sutter Stand Down
Committee and co-facilitates the area Veterans Focus Group. Vern
received 2 Purple Hearts in Vietnam for wounds in combat while with K
Co. 3rd Bn 7th marines operating out of "Dodge City" Ashau Valley, Viet
Nam May 67 - June 68. Vern Retired as a Floor Contractor and has
dedicated his life to helping Veterans. He lives in Live Oak, CA
with his wife Brenda and Daughter Tina. His son mike is in the
Army having completed a tour in Iraq with the 2nd ID.
This is Don Schrader Museum Board member. Don is
in charge of publicity, having created the new museum brochures with
color photos. Don and his wife Peppi live in District 10 outside
Marysville. Don was a 3 term County Supervisor on the Yuba County Board
whose District included the museum of which he has been a long time
supporter. He served early in Vietnam with the Special Forces Groups in
65-66, is a member of the VFW and was a delegation member to the VFW
National Convention and also a member of the Viet Nam Veterans of
America. He has also represented the VFW
at the Republican National Convention.
Tony Pinto is the Head
Docent for Tours at the Museum and Chairman for restoration as
well as being on the Museum's Board of Directors. Tony was
the Wreath Layer at the original opening ceremony of the museum in Jan.
1985 as a member of the Viet Vet House Honor Guard. He served in
Vietnam at An Khe with the 8th Engineers of the 1st Cav Division 2
tours 1967 - 1969. Tony is a great asset to the Museum staff and
all Veterans. Tony can always be counted on to help a Vet in need
and give council to those who have suffered with PTSD. Tony has
been involved with Veterans organizations for over 30 years and serves
as a role model for those now coming home from Iraq and
Afghanistan. He lives in Live Oak, CA, with his wife Sally who is
also very involved with the Women's Focus Group for Veterans.
Mary Webb served in the Air
Force, administrative specialist, from Feb 65 - Feb 73.
First assignment was Westover AFB, Massachusetts
followed by Beale AFB, CA, and one tour of duty at Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam
Dec 70 - Dec 71. Mary retired from the Sutter County Auditor's
Office in 2006. Effective Jan 2009 began serving as Treasurer for
the Museum of the Forgotten Warriors. In April 2011 Mary
completed her fifth year as a tax counselor with AARP/Tax Aide serving
the local community. This is the largest free volunteer tax
preparation service. Volunteering also includes one day a week at
the Beale AFB Thrift Shop. Calendar year 2011 finds Mary busy
purchasing and planning for Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child
boxes for the 11th year. These gift boxes go to the
neediest of the needy in third world countries. Dozens of letters
have been received from Guyana,
Bangladesh,
Philippines,
Mexico,
Panama,
Rwanda, Mongolia, and Nepal.
Austin Webb is a member of
the board. Austin entered the Air Force in March 1952 with
service at McConnell AFB, Kansas, Sidi Slimane, Morocco, Westover AFB,
Massachusetts, Anderson AFB, Guam, Beale AFB, CA, Binh Thuy AB, Vietnam
(Dec 70 - Dec 71). After 26 years, Austin retired at the rank of
SMSgt. Since 2009
Austin has been serving as a board member for
the Museum of the Forgotten Warriors. In the 1980's Dann's
mother-in-law, Ethel Eskew, shared Dann's dedication to honor veterans
and the beginnings of the museum. Austin took a number of items to
Dann's home and dropped it off with no information! At some
point, Austin
spotted a display with some of the patches and items he dropped off and
Dann then knew who donated them. Austin and Mary are
avid yard sale shoppers year around and have been fortunate to find
some unique items for the museum. Those having yard sales have
often been very gracious to sell or donate 8 X 10 frames for the museum
for veterans pictures. This also gives Austin a grand opportunity to share
museum information with people and hand out business cards.
Richard Sawyer is a Docent and the Honor Guard
Chairman for Memorial services at the museum. Richard has been an avid
supporter of the Museum for years. He is a Vietnam Veteran who went on
to participate in the SR-71 "Blackbirds" program. He and his retired
USAF MSgt wife Elizabeth live in Marysville, CA. He is also represents
the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Marysville Post at the DAV
National Convention, is a certified scuba diver and was a smoke jumper.
The museum he says is his home away from home.
Board member Jake Eulberg, who served with the
U.S. Navy during Vietnam.
Harlan Hatfield is now serving the
museum as the volunteer webmaster of the web site "The Museum of
Forgotten Warriors." He served 20 years active duty in the United
States Air Force, retiring in 1979. During the year of 1967 was
stationed at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN. During his first six years in the
AF, he was a Fire Control specialist (Radar Controlled Gunnery systems)
on B-47E and B-52H bombers, then 14 years as a Precision Measuring
Equipment Laboratory Specialist. Shortly after retirement suffered a
heart attack and has been on disability ever since.
Wayne
Leikham Sr. standing by one of his diorama's. Wayne is now the
official Diorama maker for the museum, and is a Navy Veteran, serving
on ships such as the USS Oriskany! Thanks Wayne.
PLEASE VISIT US AGAIN SOON!
Dann
Spear - Museum founder, director, and curator.
(530)742-3090
cws21779@aol.com
Any
comments or suggestions may be sent to the webmaster.
This page was last updated on
March 21, 2013