The Hamilton Field History Museum has reopened, and the public is invited to come and see their newest exhibit, which features artifacts from the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training (ROTC) program, which, after a 55-year run at Novato High School, was discontinued last year.
Museum docent Roy Pfeifer put together the exhibit. “Novato’s Air Force JROTC program was the very first established in California, one of the original 20 that were established nationwide in 1966”, he said. The program was discontinued, according to Pfeifer, because of Covid and declining enrollment, which he attributes to the steadily dwindling number of families with a direct connection to Hamilton Air Force Base, which was decommissioned in 1974. It was established in 1935.
“Junior ROTC was not set up for the purpose of recruitment,” according to Pfeifer. “Its primary purpose was to develop leadership and teamwork skills, as well as cultivate strong civic values and good citizenship.”
The museum is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 12-4. The museum is located in the historic 1934 Hamilton Firehouse at 555 Hangar Avenue, Novato 94949. Phone number is (415) 382-8614.
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