On December 3, 2021, the New Mexico Military Museum will host its last exhibit opening and programming event of the year. The exhibit, Portraits of Palawan, showcases artwork by late veteran artist, and Bataan POW, Don Thomas Schloat (1921-2010). Don Thomas Schloat served in the Army as a medic. Schloat was stationed in the Philippines during World War II and was captured at Bataan. He was a POW at Palawan and, later, at Bilibid. While a prisoner of war, he sent many drawings to newspapers. After the war, he worked for Disney, Hanna-Barbera, and Filmation Studio.
The presenter for the evening is Tammy “TS” Botkin. Botkin is a local film producer whose directorial debut is the documentary A Long March, the story of Filipino-American veterans who trace their paths from war to erasure by the U.S. Government, marching from an obscured history to the Federal courts, right up to the steps of Congress, in search of promises denied.
Botkin became aware of the plight of these veterans after her uncle, Vic Fulford, rediscovered WWII art depicting scenes from the Philippines, the Bataan Death March, and POW camps in his basement. Together, they embarked on a journey of discovery that sheds new light on this period of American history and its long-reaching impact to today.
In addition to the Museum’s new exhibit, two of these paintings will be on display. Video clips and a trailer of the new documentary will also be shown and discussed.
This event is FREE to the public. Donations are welcome as this is a dual fundraising event.
Doors open at 5:30pm and the program will start at 6:00pm. Presentation to end at 7:00pm but the museum will be open until 7:30pm.
newmexicomilitarymuseumfoundation.org 