Category: Museum of the American Military Family
“The Paladin” display in Weil im Schönbuch through May 2026
Die neueste Ausstellung im Rathaus von Weil im Schönbuch ist das Ergebnis einer internationalen Zusammenarbeit zwischen kanadischen, deutschen und amerikanischen Künstlern. „The Paladin“ präsentiert Fotografien von Gemälden des kanadischen Künstlers Barry Smylie sowie kreative Beiträge von Ulrike Gotowicz und Circe Olson Woessner.
„The Paladin“ erzählt die Geschichte einer jungen Soldatin, die in der Ukraine im Einsatz ist. Herr Smylie steht seit mehreren Jahren mit ihr in Briefkontakt und hat drei Jahre ihres Lebens beim Militär in einer Serie von zwölf Gemälden dokumentiert. Mit seinen Kunstwerken möchte Smylie die Geschichte einer einzelnen Frau erzählen – wohl wissend, dass jeder Krieg noch viele, viele weitere unerzählte Geschichten birgt und dass es wichtig ist, nicht zu vergessen, dass die Situation in der Ukraine nach wie vor andauert.
Smylie erklärt:
„Das Land wurde durch den ständigen Krieg verwüstet … Der Hass hat sich verfestigt; der Wille zum Frieden wird immer wieder vereitelt … Angesichts der Realität von Leben und Tod unter Beschuss müssen wir uns daran erinnern, dass Soldaten echte Menschen sind.“
MAMF’s two big programs in the Stuttgart area

In April, Month of the Military Child, MAMF’s exhibit, Dear America, what military-connected children want you to know was launched at Stuttgart High School. Created by high school senior Emily Wheeler, MAMF Student Liaison and Career Practicum student, Dear America was the centerpiece for a month-long celebration of military children. All Stuttgart area schools submitted artwork, essays, and other items to the exhibit. On April 15, the was a huge “Purple Up” event and all the students who contributed to the exhibit were invited. To see all more of Dear America, as well as MAMF’s other projects, click this link.

In May, MAMF collaborated with Canadian artist Barry Smylie and German artist Ulrike Gotowicz to display The Paladin at the library on Patch Barracks and at the Weil im Schönbuch town hall. Both displays run through the end of May 2026.
The jpeg files for Paladin artwork was generously gifted by Smylie to the museum, and people interested in purchasing some of the pictures should contact MAMF at info@militayfamilymuseum.org.
To see all of the Paladin files, visit Smylie’s website at https://barrysmylie.com/galleries/2025/Palidin/pages/gallery2.html
MAMF “PURPLES UP” IN STUTTGART
YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE
In April 2026, we launched a new exhibit called “Dear America, what military-connected children want you to know.” A high school senior in a Career Practicum program, whom we had been mentoring for the school year, created the exhibit. Teachers and students from all the local elementary and middle schools contributed essays, artwork, oral interviews, and more to the exhibit. While most of the exhibit consisted of student work, that doesn’t mean it didn’t cost anything to produce. Overall, the exhibit and the mid-point community-wide celebration cost about $6,000.
As a small museum in transition, our budget is very limited. Our WorkSpace isn’t open to the general public yet, so we don’t receive revenue from visitor donations. Because the exhibit is outside New Mexico and the continental United States, we are ineligible for state or most federal grants.
We are grateful for those who support the Museum of the American Military Family. Without sponsorship from individuals and organizations, we could not continue our work or maintain our organization.
This year, we are especially grateful for the people who supported “Dear America”: the Stuttgart Community Spouse Club, Kirtland Spouse Club, the Albuquerque chapter of the Military Officers’ Association of America, and all the teachers and community leaders who funded decorations, goody bags, and reception catering supplies out of their own pockets.
Additional sponsors to museum programs were the American Legion Post 117 in Clovis, New Mexico, the Belen, New Mexico, Moose Lodge 1680, and Moose Lodge 2088 in Deming, New Mexico. Our board members regularly donate “time, talent, and treasure” to keep MAMF producing relevant projects and to provide meaningful work-study and paid internships for University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico college students. (In 2026, we provided 4 students with paid work opportunities.)
Because we are a small organization, our all-volunteer board is hands-on, handling editing, social media, mentoring, content creation, displays, accounts, and official reports. This keeps expenses low. We are a very “lean” organization!
Donations from individuals not specifically earmarked for an exhibit or program can be used for general operating costs, to keep a roof over our head, the lights on, and friendly students employed. We are grateful for every contribution: checks, Facebook or PayPal donations, Facebook birthday fundraisers, anthology purchases, or new members through our “Friends of the Museum” program. Each gift supports salaries, rent, internet, insurance, display cases, and conservation supplies.
Support MAMF by taking action—explore the many ways you can help:
To donate via mail, simply send a check to MAMF at PO Box 5651, Albuquerque, NM 87185.
Donate now via this PayPal link: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/QF2CUTEPFNHWN.
Every dollar matters.
Join as a member by clicking here, or sponsor a day through our ‘Today is brought to you’ program—your commitment helps.

A fifty-dollar sponsorship pays 2 ½ hours of one of our UNM student workers’ salaries, our trademark renewal fee, or 6% of our monthly rent. A $250 sponsorship pays for our podcast platform for a year, our library space rental for a month, or 35% of our annual liability insurance. To sponsor MAMF please pay through our PayPal.
Make your tax-deductible gift today—every contribution is appreciated. We carefully steward all donations to maximize impact. Thank you for your support.
Your support for the only museum solely dedicated to the history and accomplishments of US military families is not only a show of appreciation for those who serve alongside their service member, but also a guarantee that their legacies and stories will be preserved and shared with future generations.
New exhibit about Military-Connected Children
On this International Day of Happiness, we are happy to announce our new exhibit, “Dear America, what military-connected children want you to know.” Beginning in April, you can view our “Dear America” exhibit photos and join the conversation on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MuseumoftheAmericanMilitaryFamily/

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MAMF invites your business to join our “Today is sponsored by…” program
Your Support of our museum is not only a show of appreciation to those who serve alongside their service member, but also a guarantee that their legacies and stories will be preserved and shared with future generations.

MAMF: Honors Military Families •Preserves their Legacies •Shares their Stories •Educates the Public.
In 2026, we invite businesses to join our “Today is sponsored by …” sponsorship program. Your sponsorship will help sustain our programs and provide students with access to history, education, and valuable work experiences. Your business can support MAMF by sponsoring us for a day or a week. Your contribution will fund operating expenses, program development, and student stipends.
- Sponsor us for a day: $50 • Sponsor us for a week: $250
Why Support Us? As a sponsor, your business will be recognized on our Facebook, in our members’ newsletter, and, for week-long sponsors, on our Dear America exhibit sponsor panel, (or after February 25, 2026, at our “Host Nation Hospitality” program in Munich, Germany). Your business will also be mentioned on our MAMF MEDIA podcast sign-off for a year. Wherever possible, we’ll acknowledge your support in press releases and media outreach. Your sponsorship will have a lasting impact, as we will feature your sponsorship graphic (one or seven times, depending on level) in a dedicated Facebook album, allowing our followers to see all past and current sponsors. And, above all, we will be grateful for your support.
To sponsor MAMF, please pay through our PayPal platform and write your business name and URL in the notes section. We’ll do the rest! We thank you in advance for your sponsorship! https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/QF2CUTEPFNHWN
With your help, we can make 2026 even better!
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
Big News at MAMF
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
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