Category: Museum News

With your help, we can make 2026 even better!

Museum News, Museum of the American Military Family

On “Giving Tuesday” many organizations will be asking you for a donation. We will be too.

So why donate to MAMF? What does our tiny museum with a handful of volunteer board members do? We have created this graphic to highlight some of our 2025 achievements and their impact on others.

When you donate to MAMF, you’re part of a cycle that honors military families, shares their stories, preserves their legacies, and educates the public.

2025 was a transitional year for us, and we hope to continue rebuilding in 2026. But…we absolutely cannot continue without your support. Please donate via our FB fundraiser https://www.facebook.com/donate/4224809454435746/

or  PayPal (https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/QF2CUTEPFNHWN), or by check to MAMF, PO Box 5651, Albuquerque, NM 87185.

Your tax-deductible contribution in any amount is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Your MAMF team

✨ Introducing the 2026 Museum of the American Military Family Calendar!

Military News, Museum News

A beautiful, meaningful way to honor military families all year long ❤️📅

🎨Created by Dr. Ceilon Aspensen, Artist-in-Residence for the Museum of the American Military Family

📸 Features 12 original artworks celebrating the strength, resilience & sacrifice of service members and the families who serve right alongside them.

💖 Why You’ll Love This Calendar

✨ Stunning artwork inspired by military family stories
 ✨ Each month features the museum’s mission: honoring service, sacrifice & connection
 ✨ A meaningful gift for veterans, military families, and supporters
 ✨ Great for home, classroom, office, or gift-giving
 ✨ Supports military family storytelling and arts programming

🎁 Your Purchase Makes a Difference

Every calendar sold helps support:
 ➡️ The work of the Museum of the American Military Family
 ➡️ The ongoing creative work of Dr. Ceilon Aspensen
 🫶 Proceeds are shared between the artist and the museum—your support fuels both creativity and community.

💵 Price: $19.99

A beautiful way to support a meaningful mission!

🎉 Order Your 2026 Calendar Today!

Big News at MAMF

Museum News, Museum of the American Military Family, News

In October 2025 the MAMF WorkSpace in Albuquerque will expand. We will be opening  a gallery (estimated opening December 2025) and a library/ archive. (Opening dates early spring 2026.) Until this time, the Museum WorkSpace will not be open to the public. We plan to host an open house and present our exhibit, A GI Christmas Carol: Tokyo Army Hospital 1954 in December, 2025,  exact dates to be determined. Right now, our board members, WorkSpace Manager, Jacob, and Gallery Manager, Genesis, are coordinating the move and organizing the spaces, so that we can, once again, be opened to the public.  We thank you for your patience and look forward to hosting you soon.

 

NEW BOOK RELEASE: In Service With Uncle Sam by Deborah E. Breining

Museum News, Museum of the American Military Family, Museum Press

The Museum of the American Military Family and Learning Center (MAMF) is pleased to announce the release of In Service with Uncle Sam, an anthology of stories about working  for the US Federal government. A sequel to the acclaimed Schooling With Uncle Sam and Host Nation Hospitality anthologies,  In Service With Uncle Sam focuses on federal workers from different agencies and eras.

This anthology documents and preserves history as told by the largely invisible employees working for the federal government, detailing the experiences and relationships they developed at home and abroad while serving the United States.

Author Deborah E. Breining says,  “From my point of view, collaborating on In Service With Uncle Sam was both rewarding and deeply meaningful. The process brought together a diverse group of contributors whose voices reflected the wide range of experiences of civilians working within the federal government. Beyond preserving personal memories, the book serves as a bridge for future generations to understand the human side of federal service, emphasizing that behind every policy, program, or office, there are people with experiences worth remembering.”

Editor Circe Olson Woessner adds, “These stories cover the period from the Second World War to the present. It’s interesting to learn how working conditions have evolved and shifted over the decades,  and as federal employment continues to undergo transformation, this book serves as a record of those developments through the summer of 2025.”

ABOUT THE MUSEUM:

The Museum of the American Military Family and Learning Center is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and provides programming both Stateside and overseas.  MAMF is an award-winning, mission-driven, all-volunteer 501c3 nonprofit focused on the history, culture and stories of U.S. military families.

MEDIA: Please contact circe@militaryfamilymuseum.org

In Service With Uncle Sam (Museum of the American Military Family Publications) Paperback – September 5, 2025 by  Deborah E Breining  (Author), Circe Olson Woessner  (Editor) Part of: Museum of the American Military Family Publications (5 books)

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FQ286DY9
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 5, 2025
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 293 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8294954987

In Service With Uncle Sam can be purchased on Amazon: https://a.co/d/1Qqepvw

NEW BOOK RELEASE: WOOFTASTIC and Mr. Wonderful by Circe Olson Woessner

MAMF Kids, Museum News, Museum of the American Military Family, Museum Press, News

The Museum of the American Military Family and Learning Center (MAMF) is pleased to announce the release of WOOFTASTIC and Mr. Wonderful, an easy-to-read chapter book about the adventures of Danny, a lovable Jack Russell Terrier, who is part of a service family that goes wherever Uncle Sam sends them. Danny is loyal, opinionated, and imaginative.

 WOOFTASTIC and Mr. Wonderful follows Danny as he moves from New Mexico to Hawaii and back again during significant times in recent history: the COVID-19 pandemic and the start of the War in Ukraine. In between, his daily routine of guarding his family, waiting for meals, and napping is interrupted by real and imaginary adventures.

“Anyone who has owned a Jack Russell Terrier will immediately understand where Danny is coming from,” says author Circe Olson Woessner. “Much in this book is based on real events. Maggie and Mack were dogs we had years ago, and that story is based on something Maggie did. Danny’s travel misadventures are also based on his actual PCS experiences, and he did, in fact, stand up to a bear. Unfortunately, my family learned what a sneaker wave is firsthand, but fortunately, we lived to tell the tale. I really loved writing WOOFTASTIC’s story, which emphasizes his larger-than-life personality.”

Young readers will appreciate the stories as told from a dog’s point of view, and adults can imagine how their own dogs would react if they were dropped into similar situations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR,  ILLUSTRATOR, AND MUSEUM

MAMF founder and Director Circe Olson Woessner wrote this charming book. Danny is a real dog, and his real 95-year-old grandma drew the pictures of Danny’s adventures.

The Museum of the American Military Family and Learning Center is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and provides programming both Stateside and overseas.  MAMF is an award-winning, mission-driven, all-volunteer 501c3 nonprofit focused on the history, culture and stories of military families. To learn more about MAMF, visit its website at www.militaryfamilymuseum.org and its Facebook at www.facebook.com/MuseumoftheAmericanMilitaryFamily

MEDIA: Please contact circe@militaryfamilymuseum.org

WOOFTASTIC and Mr. Wonderful (Museum of the American Military Family Publications) Paperback – September 1, 2025 by Circe Olson Woessner (Author), Joan Y Olson (Illustrator) Museum of the American Military Family Publications

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FPSHZJ2T
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 1, 2025
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 102 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8298544351

It can be purchased on Amazon: https://a.co/d/eWo4ngk

Wechselnde Ausstellungen im Rathaus

MAMF Overseas, Museum News

Seit Januar gibt es im ersten Stock des Rathauses eine Reihe von Ausstellungen, die von Dr. Circe Olson Woessner, Direktorin des MAMF International Humanities Center, gestaltet wurden. Jeder Monat steht unter einem einteiligen Thema. Das Thema im Januar lautete „Frieden“, im Februar „Liebe.“ Im März, „Gelegenheit“ war eine ausführliche Ausstellung über den WiS Ehrenbürger Walter Hahn. Die Familie Hahn arbeitete mit Dr. Woessner zusammen, um Walters außergewöhnliche Geschichte zu erzählen. Die Ausstellung „Kreativität“ im Juni/Juli zeigte Töpferwaren und Kunstwerke von Weil im Schönbuch Künstlerin Ulrike Gotowicz. Das Augustthema ist  die Natur und ist ebenfalls eine Zusammenarbeit zwischen dem Museum und der Weilerin Ulrike Gotowicz. Die US-Malerin Ceilon Aspenson gestaltet große Poster, die jede Ausstellung begleiten. Die wechselnden Ausstellungen sind während der regulären Öffnungszeiten des Rathauses zu sehen.

Changing Exhibits at City Hall

Since January, the first floor of City Hall has hosted a series of exhibitions designed by Dr. Circe Olson Woessner, Director of the MAMF International Humanities Center. Each month has a single theme. January’s theme was “Peace,” and February’s was “Love.” In March, “Opportunity” was an in-depth exhibition about Weil im Schönbuch honorary citizen Walter Hahn. The Hahn family collaborated with Dr. Woessner to tell Walter’s extraordinary story. The June/July “Creativity” exhibition featured pottery and artwork by Weil im Schönbuch artist Ulrike Gotowicz. The August theme is nature and is also a collaboration between the museum Ulrike Gotowicz. American artist Ceilon Aspenson designs large posters to accompany each exhibition. The changing exhibitions can be viewed during City Hall’s regular opening hours.

January poster by Ceilon Aspenson
The exhibit about Walter Hahn
Artist Ulrike Gotowisc
August’s “Nature” display
A closeup of one of the shelves

The museum is digitizing and cataloging its art collections

Museum News, Museum of the American Military Family

Thanks to grants from New Mexico Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, in 2023 the museum had some of its artifacts professionally photographed. In 2025 MAMF’s high school intern Nathan began work researching the artifacts and creating graphics so that we could display the items on our various social media platforms. Be sure to check out the Collections Tab on this website under “Our Programs and Exhibits.”

 

 

Please consider a donation to MAMF

Brats, Events, Military Family Members, Military News, Museum News, Museum of the American Military Family

The Museum of the American Military Family, relies on grants and the support of individuals and groups to do its work of preserving history and providing programming to the public. We are an all-volunteer-run organization that provides paid internships to students. As we prepare for the opening of our Workspace in May, we kindly ask you to support our work by making a donation of any amount to honor a “brat” or two in your family! If you’re unable to donate, please consider sharing this fundraiser on your social media. MAMF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so your donation is tax-deductible. Thank you very much in advance for your support!

You can mail in a check, donate directly through our Facebook page DONATE BUTTON, or via Pay Pal or Venmo at this link.

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