Col. Galen Seal, USAF (Ret.)

Born in Topeka, Kansas in 1932. Attended Washburn University from 1950 to1953. Transferred to University of Colorado where he graduated with a BS in Business/Marketing and a commission in the USAF. Attended flight school and received his wings in 1955 and was assigned to Ashiya AFB, Japan where he served as a troop carrier pilot until 1957. He continued serving in the USAFR for a total of 23 years of service, retiring as a Colonel.

Col. Seal earned a Masters degree in Speech Communications (MS) from the University of Denver. He has owned and operated several businesses, including office furniture, …

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Dr. Gary G. Parks, USCGR

Dr. Parks served on the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation Board since its inception. He was elected President and CEO in 2008. He died February 4, 2014, from complications of surgery. He was 70. Born in Thayer, Missouri on January 21, 1944, Dr. Gary Parks had a long and distinguished career. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve from 1961 to 1969. Following college, Dr. Parks entered the field of law enforcement and retired in 1986 from the San Diego Harbor Police. He earned a Doctorate in Education from Alliant International University, a Masters degree from United States International …

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Benjamin Lawrence

Benjamin Lawrence, LtCol, USNC (Ret.) was born on April 26, 1944 in Atlanta Georgia. He received a BS degree in biological science from San Jose State and MA degree in business management from Webster University.

He served as a Park Ranger at Grand Canyon from whence he joined the USMC in 1966. Ben was commissioned a second lieutenant on April 1, 1968 and was directed to the Army Helicopter School. He received his Army wings in December, 1968 and was reassigned to MCAS (H) Santa Ana, CA, where he was designated a Naval Aviator. Ben was sent to Vietnam in …

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Dr. Tom Splitgerber

Tom Splitgerber, CAPT, USN (Ret.) assumed the position of County Veterans Service Officer May 23, 2003. Previously he was Chief Executive Officer of the Veterans Museum & Memorial Center located in Balboa Park, San Diego. He developed an on-going working relationship with the San Diego County Veterans Service Office, the VA Healthcare Systems San Diego, VA Regional Office San Diego and California Department of Veterans Affairs in Sacramento.

Dr. Splitgerber concurrently held the position of local exhibit manager of the World War II through Russian Eyes exhibit located in Balboa Park from February 1999 through July 1999. He spent 30 …

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Guy Stroscher

Guy attended Iowa State University where he received Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees. After graduating from Iowa State, he began a career in Aerospace and Defense, while also engaging in real estate transactions. He joined the Board of Directors in 2005, and served for five years. In 2010, he became a Director Emeritus when he left the Board to attend law school.    He received his Juris Doctorate in 2014. Guy resides in Austin, Texas.

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John G. Ibe, USN

John G. Ibe was involved in the early stages of securing additional space in San Diego County for what would become the Miramar National Cemetery. He worked very hard in this effort and was a prime mover in getting the facilities located, funded. He was active with the early stages of the Fort Rosecrans and Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation, serving as a Chairman until his death in June 2006 at age 86.

Mr. Ibe was born on December 18, 1921 in Sheboygan, Wis. In 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an apprentice Seaman. He was a WWII …

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Col. Jesse Ugalde, USA (Ret.)

While serving as State Directors of Veterans Affairs, Col. Jesse Ugalde served on a committee of veterans evaluating the creation of an additional veterans’ cemetery within San Diego County. Years of meetings, negotiations, inspections, and agreements resulted in the new Miramar National Cemetery. Col. Ugalde was one of the first members of the newly formed Fort Rosecrans and Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation, serving as a member of the Board of Directors until his retirement. He died July 10, 2011, at the age of 91.

Born in Oak Creek, Colo., 21 November 1921, He earned a BS from the University …

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