The Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation was founded by John W. Blankenship in 2003 with a personal gift from Pierre Claeyssens. With his wife, Hazel, he has assembled an Executive Board and an Advisory Board that is involved with several projects which honor all 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 Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation hosts many events throughout the year to support and honor Veterans and Active Duty Military.
Board of Directors
Advisory Board
LT. John Blankenship, USN (former) Hazel Blankenship Sheriff Bill Brown, Santa Barbara County Col. Phil Conran, USAF (ret.) LT. Mike Conroy USN (former) Capt. Joe Danely, US Army (former) BGen. Fred Lopez, USMCR (ret.) CDR Charles Huff USN (ret.) Lt. Col. Maureen Masson, USAF (ret.) Sgt. Dennis Merenbach, US Army (former) LT. Steve Penner USN (former) Capt. Dennis Peterson, USMC (former) Maj. Jose Ramirez, USMC (ret.) Lt. Col. Patricia Rumpza, USAF (ret.)
Gen. Bill Begert, USAF (ret.) Honorable A. Brooks Firestone Capt. Florent Groberg, US Army (ret.) Gen. Paul X. Kelley, USMC (ret.) Honorable Robert J. Lagomarsino Cpt. Karl Marlantes, USMC (former) BGen. Henry Muller, US Army (ret.) Captain Charlie Plumb, USN (ret.) Gen. Anthony Zinni, USMC (ret.)
LT. John Blankenship, USN (former) Hazel Blankenship Sheriff Bill Brown, Santa Barbara County Col. Phil Conran, USAF (ret.) Sgt. Michael Cook, US Army (former) Capt. Joe Danely, US Army (former) Col. Ed Dewey, US Army (ret.) Dr. Roger Dunham, USN (former) Adam Lewis BGen. Fred Lopez, USMCR (ret.) Michael Maloco, Civil Air Patrol Lt. Col. Maureen Masson, USAF (ret.) Michel Nellis MSG Jon Parra, US Army (ret.) Capt. Dennis Peterson, USMC (former) Maj. Jose Ramirez, USMC (ret.) Cpl. Pete Schenck, USMC (former) SN Gary Simpson, Veteran, USCG (former)
Col. Michael J. Maloco USAF,Aux.
Maj. Gen. Phil Conley, USAF (ret.) Honorable A. Brooks Firestone Capt. Florent Groberg, US Army (ret.) Gen. Paul X. Kelley, USMC (ret.) Honorable Robert J. Lagomarsino Cpt. Karl Marlantes, USMC (former) BGen. Henry Muller, US Army (ret.) Captain Charlie Plumb, USN (ret.) Honorable Pete Wilson, USMC (former) Gen. Anthony Zinni, USMC (ret.)
Gen. Bill Begert, USAF (ret.) LT. John Blankenship, USN (former) Hazel Blankenship Sheriff Bill Brown, Santa Barbara County Col. Phil Conran, USAF (ret.) Sgt. Michael Cook, US Army (former) Capt. Joe Danely, US Army (former) Col. Ed Dewey, US Army (ret.) Capt. Joe Hardin, US Army (former) BGen. Fred Lopez, USMCR (ret.) Col. Michael Maloco, USAF, Aux. Lt. Col. Maureen Masson, USAF (ret.) Sgt. Dennis Merenbach, US Army (former) MSG Jon Parra, US Army (ret.) Capt. Dennis Peterson, USMC (former) Maj. Jose Ramirez, USMC (ret.) Cpl. Pete Schenck, USMC (former) SN Gary Simpson, USCG (former)
Former Lt. John Blankenship, the founding director of the Pierre Claeyssens Foundation, shares war stories from his own service and from others’ from the Pierre Clayessens Veterans Foundation collection.
Harris was a long-time board member of the Pierre Claeyssen's Veteran's Foundation, which honors veterans in the Santa Barbara area. He passed away on March 6, 2020 and due to COVID-19 restrictions, his funeral service was held outdoors with full military honors.
