About Us
The Pierre Claeyssens Veterans’ Museum and Library Foundation was founded by John W. Blankenship in 2003 with an initial $1 million personal gift from Pierre Claeyssens. With his wife, Hazel, he has assembled an Executive Board and an Advisory Board that will build a comprehensive Museum and Library in Santa Barbara that will celebrate The Greatest Generation and Veterans of All Wars. An extensive collection of artwork, memorabilia, and personal histories are collected and ready for exhibit. Our famous Santa Barbara and the Tri-County areas from Ventura to San Luis Obispo have played vital roles in all of the wars and conflicts of the 20th Century and have a proud history of service to our nation. The Claeyssens Museum hosts many events throughout the year to support and honor Veterans and Active Duty Military.
Pierre Claeyssens, Founder (1909–2003)
Pierre Claeyssens (1900 – 20203) was born and raised in Antwerp, Belgium and often spoke of his childhood memories when the US Forces rescued him and his countrymen from the German occupation. He was drafted into the Belgium Army at age 21 and found himself unsuited to peacetime military life. He went on to become a trained architect and immigrated to the United States at the age of 30 with Europe on the verge of another major war. He came to Chicago in 1938 and soon moved to California, serving the growing war effort by helping to design Liberty Ships at Terminal Island. In the decades following World War II he worked as prolific and successful architect on many schools, libraries and other public building throughout Southern California.
After being widowed he married the late Ailene Wood, an oil heiress from Santa Barbara, and was never shy about recounting how he became a multimillionaire. For the remainder of his life he unceasingly expressed his profound gratitude to the American military, both Veterans and Active Duty, with financial support and with the Annual Military Ball which was, and remains, a hosted black tie affair for Veterans’ and their spouses.
Pierre was a beloved figure in the world of Santa Barbara philanthropy. Though confined to a wheel chair in his later years, he is
always remembered as a man who never lost his gentle outlook on life, his vitality and his enthusiasm for helping other people. Asked about his special feelings for the military he said: “I still feel an obligation to the United States, especially to the military. That’s why I am behind the idea of a Museum to honor the soldiers who died. To be killed in a war is not the worst that can happen. To be lost is not the worst. To be forgotten is the worst.”
The Pierre Claeyssens Veteran’s Museum and Library Foundation is committed to carrying out the mission of building a world class destination Museum to carry on Pierre’s dreams that American military history will never become lost in the fog of time.
Executive Committee |
Advisory Board |
|---|---|
Hazel Blankenship |
Larry Crandell |
John Blankenship |
Judge Floyd Dodson |
Brig. General Frederick Lopez, Ret. |
Dr. Roger Dunham |
Lt. Col. Jack Harris, Ret. |
Walter Ehlers, Medal of Honor Recipient |
Major General Philip J. Conley, Jr. |
Honorable A. Brooks Firestone |
Major Jose Ramirez, Ret. |
Major General Joseph Franklin |
Robert Zeman |
John Ilgen |
Adam Lewis |
Rear Admiral Donald G. Iselin, Ret. |
Michael Nellis |
Honorable Robert J. Lagomarsino |
Colonel Louis Montalvo, Ret. |
|
General Henry Muller, Ret. |
|
Colonel Alfonso Oseguera, Ret. |
|
Judge James Patillo |
|
General Michael Rogers, Ret. |
|
Dr. Dan Secord |
|
Honorable Pete Wilson |
|
Colonel George Woolsey, Ret. |
|
General
Anthony Zinni, Ret. |
The Pierre Claeyssens Veterans’ Museum contributes financial support to various individuals, institutions and non-profits on an annual basis as decided by the Board. Any financial or in kind contributions shall not be subject to any sort of “fee” or “administrative cost” to be deducted from the gift in any manner. All gifts shall be subject to Board approval.