By Mike Finney

DOVER — Camaraderie is the key word used when asked what attracts individuals to volunteer their time at the Air Mobility Command Museum.

John Taylor, director of the museum that is home to more than 30 historically restored aircraft, says it is the commitment of its volunteers that takes the visitors’ experience to the next level.

There is currently an opportunity for people to join their award-winning team as volunteers at the Air Mobility Command Museum Retail Gift Store.

“I use this statement all the time that our volunteers are the heartbeat of our museum,” Mr. Taylor said. “Without them we couldn’t open the doors and that’s probably the simplest way to put it.”

The museum’s gift store needs volunteers to assist with routine jobs, including stocking shelves, taking inventory, bagging purchases and ringing up sales.

The store is the last stop for most visitors as they routinely swing by on their way home for memorabilia such as shirts, hats, vintage posters, airplane replicas, stickers and more.

Mr. Taylor said that the museum captured the Tripadvisor Award again for 2024 as one of the top 25% of attractions in the world.

“Those docents — our volunteers — are the ones that speak with the people, and I tell them all the time, ‘You are the ones that give this museum the name.’ I just steer the ship,” he said. “I would say 80% of our volunteers are retired military, but it’s a mixture of all different kinds of folks, and they all get along.”

Mr. Taylor said most of his volunteers tell him if they got paid to do what they do that they wouldn’t come.

“They come here for the camaraderie and the fact that they can come here and help this museum, and they are the heartbeat — from docents to working on these aircraft and restoring these airplanes to working in the store,” he added, saying each volunteer is an invaluable asset.

The museum, located at 1301 Heritage Road adjacent to Dover Air Force Base, is open from Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Volunteers and visitors do not need access to the base to get to the museum.

The entrance to the facility is located off Del.1/U.S. 113 exit 91, which puts drivers on Del. 9. From there, the museum is accessed about a half mile to the east.

The museum’s gift store is managed by Denise Miller. Kelly Hurlburt, now assistant manager, managed it from 2017-’20.

“There’s two of us, along with our volunteers,” Ms. Hurlburt said. “Volunteers are very vital to us, and we can’t operate without them. They’re the ones that actually run the store.”

She added that the busiest times at the store come when Dover Air Force Base hosts an Air Show and seasonal monthly open cockpit weekends at the museum, when guests can get an up-close look at planes from the pilot’s point of view.

She says when DE Turf in Frederica hosts a big sporting event that they often get curiosity seekers who like to stop by.

“The store is the No. 1 moneymaker for the museum, and the more people we get in the museum, the more money the store makes to support the museum,” Mr. Taylor said. “The (Museum) Foundation operates the store, our 501c3.

“The volunteers actually fall under the museum and work for the museum. The two store employees work for the Foundation, so it’s kind of a conglomeration that works — but they’re hurting right now for volunteers.”

Those interested in volunteering at the Air Mobility Command Museum’s retail gift store is asked to contact Mike Hurlburt, opsamcm@comcast.net or 302-677-3855.

Staff writer Mike Finney can be reached at 302-741-8230 or mfinney@iniusa.org.
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