Mt. Soledad Memorial Association’s new executive director, USN Command Master Chief Larry Wilske, has a new assignment – shepherding the veterans group through changing times.
“I am honored and humbled by this appointment,” the highly decorated retired Navy SEAL said. “This organization is not only important to our region but to the country and our military community.”
Wilske retired in 2011 after 30 years of U.S. military service and six tours of combat duty overseas.
Recently, association president/CEO Bruce Bailey announced the new executive director’s hiring, noting that Wilske “was selected out of a pool of highly qualified candidates. His leadership skills are what the association needs for our future growth.”
Asked if the association is at a crossroads in its history, Wilske replied, “Absolutely.” Noting the association has put a lot of hard work in, Wilske said the group is “just about ready to own our memorial. We’re almost in a position to begin negotiating with the city to have control of the entire park. Then we can go from being a really nice place to being a national icon. We’ve got all the pieces in place. We just need to develop those spaces and launch into the future.”
“One thing we’re (vets) in the process of doing right now is putting together a committee that will help us raise the funds to buy the property,” Bailey said. Of Wilske’s new responsibilities, Bailey said, “Larry is going to take over the business end of it. He will get volunteers for docents. He will oversee the veterans’ honor ceremonies. There’s a whole laundry list of things we’re going to have him do.” Bailey said that recent upgrades to the memorial site include the ongoing addition of electricity, expected to be installed by the end of April, to provide lighting and operate sprinklers. With electricity, Bailey said that memorial’s flagpole can remain lit at all times and that guests will be able to find where memorial plaques are located on the walls via an electronic directory onsite. “We also can have an announcer’s system. It will be fun,” said Bailey. Wilske had a recent political “calling,” running unsuccessfully for Congress against incumbent Susan Davis. Wilske characterized the experience as “humbling.” “There are a lot of Americans out there, regardless of party, who are saying, ‘It’s OK to be a patriot,’” Wilske said. He noted it’s remarkable in which all the different walks of life patriots can be found, adding he found that knowledge to be “refreshing.”
Asked if he’s politically conservative, Wilske replied, “No, I’m just a patriotic American.”
Wilske intends to steer the association forward, preserving its integrity by sticking to what the organization stands for while implementing “our own vision preserving the solid core values which have become the backbone of who we are.”
The nonprofit Mt. Soledad Memorial Association stands as a unique memorial, as it is the only memorial to honor veterans, living and deceased, from the Revolutionary War to the global “War on Terror” with its walls of plaques.
For more information, call (858) 459-2314 or visit soledadmemorial.com.