AFA Palm Springs

Veterans Day at the General Patton Memorial Museum

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Veterans Day at the General Patton Memorial Museum
November 11, 2025 — 11:00 AM

The General Patton Memorial Museum has a long tradition of honoring those who served. The museum’s very first Veterans Day Celebration took place on November 11, 1988—the cement was still drying when the ribbon was cut. It was also General Patton’s 103rd birthday. More than 5,000 guests attended that opening event, including many who had trained at the Desert Training Center and later served under Patton during World War II.

That legacy continues. This year’s program features special guest Helen Patton, a General Patton impersonator, military vehicles, collector clubs and camps, a Miniature Gaming Society exhibit, music and entertainment, food and vendors, plus the museum’s Survival Tree and Remembrance Rocks—a quiet place to pause and reflect on those we’ve lost.

If you’ve never visited the museum on Veterans Day, it’s worth the trip. The setting is historic, the experience personal and inspiring, and it remains one of the most meaningful local places to spend November 11th.

More information: www.generalpattonmuseum.org Phone: (760) 507-4143

Fields of Valor at Patriot Park

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Patriot Park in Cathedral City is hosting the annual Fields of Valor display this week, and it is something every local resident should make time to experience. More than 2,000 American flags stand in long, quiet rows across the park, each placed in honor of veterans — past, present, and fallen. The field also includes a special dedication to Purple Heart recipients.

Walking among these flags is a moving experience. The scale of the display is impressive, but it’s the personal connections behind it that stay with you. Many of the flags are dedicated by families and friends who come to visit, reflect, and remember. Volunteers from across the Coachella Valley help install the entire field, and their commitment shows in the care taken with every flag.

For those in the Palm Springs area, this is one of the most meaningful local tributes you can attend. It’s close by, easy to visit, and a powerful reminder of the service and sacrifice within our own community. Patriot Park offers plentiful adjacent parking, making it simple for anyone to stop by, spend time walking the paths, and take in the quiet impact of the display.

Fields of Valor runs November 8–14, open daily from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with “Taps” played at 4:00 PM each afternoon.

It’s well worth walking among the flags at least once this week.

Keep Watching The Skies!

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“Watch the skies. Everywhere. Keep looking. Keep watching the skies!”. This iconic line is from the 1951 science fiction film “The Thing from Another World”. But in this case many of these launches are clearly seen all the way out here in the Coachella Valley.

Starting in 2026, The U.S. Air Force has approved SpaceX’s proposal to increase launch rates from Vandenberg Space Force Base to up to 100 rockets per year, doubling the previous limit. This approval allows SpaceX to use a second launch complex, SLC-6, which will support up to five Falcon Heavy launches and landings per year, alongside increased Falcon 9 activity at SLC-4. This expansion follows the completion of the Final Environmental Impact Statement and a Record of Decision signed on October 10, 2025.

Launch increase: The annual cap will increase from 50 to 100 launches, combining Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy missions.
New launch complex: A second launch complex, Space Launch Complex (SLC)-6, will be used for up to five Falcon Heavy launches and landings annually.
Facility upgrades: The approval includes authorization for new infrastructure, such as a new hangar, to support the increased activity.
Environmental review: The decision was based on a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and a Record of Decision signed in October 2025, which concluded that noise impacts would not be significant, though mitigation measures will be implemented.
State opposition: The California Coastal Commission previously opposed the expansion, citing concerns about noise and environmental impacts, but the federal government maintains that launch operations are exempt from state oversight. 

Every Other Wednesday at ROC’s

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Bacon Double smash. Photo-bombing bartender, additional charge!

Every other Wednesday at 11:30am, we have our unofficial Chapter lunch at ROC’s. We sometimes have presentations by one of our local heroes. Otherwise always good company, tall tales and great food. This is one of our favorites. No reservation required, just pay for your own lunch and beverage. Come join us! Next date is October 29th 2025. Send us an e-mail to AFAPalmSprings@outlook.com to check the schedule. Thanks!

ROC’s Firehouse Grille, 36891 Cook Street Palm Desert CA https://www.rocsfirehouse.com

“Rock the Museum” at the General Patton Memorial Museum

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The General Patton Memorial Museum in Chiriaco Summit has introduced a new community art initiative titled “Talking Rocks.” This ongoing exhibit invites participants to pick up a rock at the museum, paint it in a patriotic theme, and return it for placement in the museum’s Memory Garden.

Each contribution will become a lasting part of the display, honoring the spirit of service, patriotism, and remembrance. Entries are accepted throughout the year, but those received before Veterans Day (November 11) will be placed in the garden during the museum’s annual Veterans Day ceremony. Rocks received afterward will continue to be added to the exhibit on an ongoing basis.

Participation in the program is free through November 12, and all are encouraged to contribute. This initiative provides a meaningful way for individuals, families, and organizations to express appreciation for our nation’s veterans and first responders.

General Patton Memorial Museum
62-510 Chiriaco Road, Chiriaco Summit, CA 92201
(760) 507-4143
https://generalpattonmuseum.com

Stars, Stripes and Songs: A Celebration of Veterans

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On Monday, November 10, 2025, the McCallum Theatre, in partnership with the City of Palm Desert, will host the inaugural Veterans Day Eve Celebration—an evening dedicated to honoring our veterans, their families, and the community.

The festivities begin at 5:30 PM with a patriotic pre-show celebration, followed at 7:00 PM by a USO-style performance on the McCallum stage. After the show, attendees are invited to stay for a classic ice cream social to end the evening.

Veterans and their families will receive 50% off the general ticket price. Tickets are available for $15 with promo code THANKYOU50, beginning September 12.

This is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together, enjoy music and camaraderie, and show appreciation to those who served.

Event Details:

  • Date: Monday, November 10, 2025
  • Time: 5:30 PM Pre-Show Celebration | 7:00 PM Performance
  • Location: McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260
  • Tickets: $15 with promo code THANKYOU50 – Order tickets online at:
    https://www.mccallumtheatre.org/veteransevecelebration/

For more information, visit https://www.mccallumtheatre.org or contact Brooke Stuessy, Director – Events at (760) 776-6186, bstuessy@mccallum-theatre.org.

River Rats Over North Vietnam: AFA Palm Springs Lunch Recap with Major Lee Cohen

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Yesterday’s AFA Palm Springs lunch at ROC’s Firehouse Grille was truly memorable. Sixteen of us filled the meeting room to hear one of our own, Major Lee Cohen, USAF (Ret.), share his experiences as a member of the famed River Rats during the Vietnam War.

Over 100 Missions in an EB-66
Major Cohen flew the EB-66, logging more than 100 combat missions in heavily defended skies over North Vietnam. His firsthand accounts gave us a vivid window into what it was like to fly electronic warfare missions day after day in some of the most hostile airspace in history.

Learning About the River Rats Association
For many of us, one of the most surprising and enlightening parts of Lee’s talk was learning about the River Rats Association, formally known as the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association. Most of the room was unfamiliar with the organization before his presentation.

Lee explained how the group began in 1967 when aircrews from across the services came together to share tactics, improve coordination, and build esprit de corps during the Vietnam War. They took their nickname from the Red River Valley airspace — one of the fiercest aerial battle zones of the conflict. What started as tactical collaboration grew into a lasting fraternity dedicated to preserving bonds of service, honoring sacrifices, and supporting fellow aircrew families.

Scholarship, Legacy & Museum
Lee also shared how, in 1970, the River Rats launched a scholarship program with the mission of “taking care of our own.” Since then, the program has awarded 1,468 scholarship grants, totaling more than $3,274,000 to the children, grandchildren, and spouses of Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Army aircrew members. This was new information to most of us and a powerful reminder of how their mission continues today.

The River Rats also maintain a museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which preserves their history and tells the story of the men and women who flew in one of the most challenging air campaigns in U.S. history.

For more about the River Rats and their history, visit their website: https://www.river-rats.org

AFA Palm Springs Lunch Tomorrow – Stories from the River Rats

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Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, for our next AFA Palm Springs lunch. Our speaker will again be Major Lee Cohen, USAF (Ret.), one of our own members who many of you know.

This time, Major Cohen will be sharing his experiences as one of the “River Rats”—the pilots who flew high-risk missions over North Vietnam. The River Rats were known for their courage, skill, and close brotherhood, and Lee’s firsthand stories promise to be both moving and illuminating.

Major Cohen is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and decorated combat pilot. He flew the EB-66 electronic warfare “Destroyer” and other aircraft during the Vietnam War, carrying out missions in some of the most contested airspace of the conflict. He later served in leadership roles and continued in the Air Force Reserve. In retirement, he has stayed active in veteran and aviation circles, bringing his experiences to audiences everywhere.

Location: ROC’s Firehouse Grille, 36891 Cook Street, Suite 10, Palm Desert
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Cost: No charge for attendance — just purchase your own lunch.

As always, lunch will offer great company, spirited conversation, and an opportunity to hear directly from one of our members who lived an extraordinary slice of Air Force history.

We look forward to seeing you there. Thanks!

National Aviation Day – Flying in the Nose of a B-25

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From the glass nose of a B-25 Mitchell bomber, the view over the Salton Sea is both breathtaking and humbling. This position, once occupied by a bombardier in World War II, offers one of the most dramatic perspectives in aviation — a reminder of the courage it took to fly these aircraft in combat.

Today, August 19, we share this video in recognition of National Aviation Day. Established in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the observance was set to coincide with the birthday of aviation pioneer Orville Wright. The day encourages reflection on the achievements of the Wright brothers and the continuing impact of aviation on our world.

Among the aircraft that carried forward that legacy is the North American B-25 Mitchell. Best remembered for its role in the daring Doolittle Raid of 1942, the B-25 served across every theater of World War II, from the Pacific to Europe. More than 9,800 were built, performing missions that ranged from level bombing to anti-shipping strikes, and many continued flying long after the war in training, transport, and even civilian roles.

Flying in the nose of this aircraft today connects us directly to that history — bridging past and present through the experience of flight.

Record‑Setting 70th Anniversary U‑2 Flight

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U.S. Air Force members of the 9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and 1st Reconnaissance Squadron (RS) prepare a 9th Reconnaissance Wing TU-2S Dragon Lady piloted by Cory “ULTRALORD” Bartholomew, 1st RS assigned flight safety officer and U-2 instructor pilot, and Lt. Col. “JETHRO”, 1st RS instructor pilot and U-2 chief pilot, at Beale Air Force Base (AFB), California, Aug. 1st, 2025. “ULTRALORD” and “JETHRO”’s flight took place on the 70th anniversary of the U-2’s first flight and broke the endurance records for the U-2, flying longer than 14 hours and traveled over 6,000 nautical miles. This flight tested the capabilities of the U-2 and its pilots to its limit and showcased Beale AFB’s capacity as a power projection platform to rapidly respond to adversary actions anywhere in the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Frederick A. Brown)

On July 31, 2025, in a bold tribute to the U‑2 Dragon Lady’s accidental maiden flight nearly 70 years earlier, a TU‑2S from Beale AFB’s 9th Reconnaissance Wing embarked on a historic mission—co‑piloted by Cory “ULTRALORD” Bartholomew and Lt. Col. “JETHRO.” From its takeoff through a nonstop journey across all 48 contiguous U.S. states, this iconic high-altitude spy plane flew for over 14 hours, covering more than 6,000 nautical miles—a new endurance record for its class.

This mission, conducted exactly seven decades after the U‑2 first took to the skies, was more than just a record—it demonstrated the enduring capabilities of this Cold War-era platform in modern operations. According to the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron commander, “the character of war is changing, but our extreme ownership of our mission… will never change.”

The flight also highlighted Beale AFB’s readiness and resolve, showcasing its role as a power-projection hub that can respond quickly and effectively to emerging threats anywhere in the world.

The full story is packed with rich details—background on the planning, pilot profiles, mission logistics, and more insights into this one-of-a-kind flight. Read the complete article here to explore how this mission unfolded and what it means for the future of Air Force reconnaissance:

Beale AFB conducts historic U‑2 Dragon Lady flight, 11 years in the making — AF.mil
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4263709/beale-afb-conducts-historic-u-2-dragon-lady-flight-11-years-in-the-making/