6906 Miramar Road, Ste. C-142, San Diego, CA 92121

Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation

A final tribute to the Veterans of our Armed Services who gave their all.

Richard Sells Retires

by

Richard T. Sells, Foundation’s last original Board member, retires after 17 years

Richard T. Sells, who played a key role in the location of a second Veterans Administration cemetery in San Diego, is retiring after 17 years as a founding member, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation.

During his tenure on the Support Foundation, Sells, 82, has been responsible for the organization’s financial stability. He also has overseen funding for construction and maintenance of the Avenue of Flags, a display of 50 American flags along the cemetery’s main street, and for the Veterans Tribute Tower & Carillon, which strikes the hour and plays patriotic music.

“I know I speak for the entire board when I say [Continue Reading]

Memorial Day 2021

by

Memorial Day Video Program to Honor Military, VA Nurses

Speakers include Chief of U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps, Miramar Young Marines Leader, Cemetery Director

Military nurses who care for members of America’s fighting forces in wartime, and the Veterans Administration nurses who continue that care following the members’ service, deserve recognition and appreciation from the nation for their dedication and personal sacrifice, Memorial Day speakers will declare during an program to be posted on-line May 27. 

The Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation will sponsor the 30-minute program, whose theme is, “Dear to my Heart.” The program will be available at www.miramarcemetery.org, beginning Wednesday, May 26, 2021. 

“The covid pandemic is still preventing us from hosting a live Memorial Day service,” said [Continue Reading]

Carillon Tower Temporarily Out of Service

by

Carillon Tower Temporarily Out of Service

An electrical problem has taken the Veterans Tribute Tower & Carillon off line temporarily. Cemetery officials are selecting a contractor to repair the electrical system, which should be back in operation in June. The Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation, which sponsors the Carillon Tower, regrets the inconvenience to visitors.

by

COVID-19 Measures: A message from Greta Hamilton, Director, Fort Rosecrans and Miramar National Cemeteries

We have come through a difficult time, but as a nation we continue to see improvements in our battle against COVID -19. As a result of the critical gains achieved in San Diego County:

Miramar National Cemetery committal service attendance capacity is increased from 35 to 50 individuals inside the committal shelter. An additional 50 members may socially distance around the committal shelter in designated areas.   

Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery committal service attendance capacity is increased from 10 to 15 individuals total. The 15 attendees is inclusive of individuals both in and outside the committal shelter.

All individuals attending a committal service are still required to wear a mask and socially distance [Continue Reading]

https://miramarcemetery.org/news/covid/

by

Grounds Work at Miramar National Cemetery Will Improve Appearance, Reduce Maintenance

Bare earth is revealed in the Flag Assembly Area as one stage of a turf replacement project takingplace throughout the cemetery.

Miramar National Cemetery is replacing turf throughout the cemetery to improve appearance and reduce overall maintenance cost. All grass surfaces will be impacted. The project is expected to be complete by August 2021.

“Please pardon the appearance,” said Greta Hamilton, the cemetery director of Miramar and Fort Rosecrans National Cemeteries. “The cemetery will not be up to our National Shrine Standards while we’re going through the turf replacement process.”

Replacing turf involves treating the existing turf and then removing it, tilling the soil, re-grading the gravesites, and sodding with new [Continue Reading]

https://miramarcemetery.org/news/improvements/

by

Greta Hamilton

Air Force Veteran Greta L. Hamilton is New Director at Fort Rosecrans and
Miramar National Cemeteries

Greta L. Hamilton, a retired U.S. Air Force officer, has assumed duties as director of the Fort Rosecrans and Miramar National Cemeteries. Most recently director of the Omaha National Cemetery Complex, she took up her post in San Diego in March.

As Director of San Diego’s Veterans Administration cemeteries, Hamilton is responsible for all burials, maintenance, and administrative operations at Fort Rosecrans and Miramar. In one of her earlier assignments, she was Assistant Director at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, Calif.

“We’re extremely excited to welcome Director Hamilton to her new post,” said Sallay Kim, President & CEO of the Miramar National Cemetery Support [Continue Reading]

https://miramarcemetery.org/news/greta-hamilton/

by

New Foundation President & CEO Sallay Kim

  Army Veteran C. Sallay Kim New President & CEO of Support Foundation

C. Sallay Kim, retired Army intelligence officer and San Diego entrepreneur, has been elected to lead the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation as President and CEO. Kim is the owner of Serenity Event Solutions, a firm that plans and manages conferences and events in Southern California.

The Support Foundation raises funds to construct such projects as the Avenue of Flags and the Veterans Tribute Tower & Carillon, and coordinates with local veterans’ groups to place memorials in the cemetery. It currently is raising funds for construction of the Armed Forces Memorial Amphitheater, a $600,000 project. No federal funds are expended for [Continue Reading]

https://miramarcemetery.org/news/sallay-kim-president/

by

Support Foundation Marks Veterans Day 2020 with Video Presentation Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 10

Commemorates 75th Anniversary of World War II Victory and the U.S. Merchant Marine

With the COVID pandemic prohibiting large public gatherings, the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation is marking Veterans Day 2020 with a video presentation commemorating the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II and the contributions of the U.S. Merchant Marine in achieving victory. 

The 20-minute program will be on-line at this website beginning Tuesday, Nov. 10, on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, and for some time afterward. 

Rear Adm. Jack Buono

Rear Adm. Jack Buono, superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at King’s Point, N.Y., is the featured speaker. Charlie Inot, Support Foundation President & [Continue Reading]

https://miramarcemetery.org/news/vetday-2020/

by

Amphitheater Video Describes ‘A Vision for Miramar National Cemetery’

With some $20,000 collected toward construction of the proposed Armed Forces Memorial Amphitheater, the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation has released a short video describing the project and showing an artist’s rendering of the Amphitheater, which will be built in the Flag Assembly Area.

The video is titled “Armed Forces Memorial Amphitheater: A Vision for Miramar National Cemetery.” To view the video, please follow this link: PLAY VIDEO

To donate to the Amphitheater project, please follow this link: DONATE HERE, and follow the prompts. Donations also may be addressed to Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation, c/o 2500 6th Ave., Unit 803, San Diego, CA 92103. The Foundation [Continue Reading]

https://miramarcemetery.org/news/amphitheater-video/

by

Retired Navy captain and trailblazer for women’s equality in the service dies at 76

Retired Capt. Kathy Bruyere, a trailblazing Navy sailor, died Sept. 3. She is seen here as a commander. (Courtesy Trent Bruyere)

Editor’s Note: Retired Navy Captain Kathy Bruyere, one of the original volunteer staff members at Miramar National Cemetery, died Sept. 3, in San Diego. Highly respected by all associated with the cemetery, she was a friend and ally of the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation.

(The following article was published Sept. 10, 2020, in Navy Times.)

By Diana Stancy Correll

Retired Navy Capt. Kathy Bruyere, a pioneer for women’s equality in the Navy, died Sept. 3 in San Diego following a battle with cancer, [Continue Reading]

https://miramarcemetery.org/news/bruyere/