The Space Force Association (SFA) Space Coast Chapter will hold its inaugural 'Guardian History & Heritage Series' event on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the Veterans Museum and Education Center (VMEC) in Daytona Beach. The ceremony runs from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and includes the donation of an active-duty U.S. Space Force (USSF) uniform to VMEC’s permanent collection. The event is part of a partnership between SFA and the museum.
The uniform being donated belongs to Senior Master Sergeant Ernesto Bottoms, who has served over 18 years in combined military service. Currently, SMSgt Bottoms works as Operations Senior Enlisted Advisor at Space Launch Delta 45, where he has supported more than 204 launches on the Eastern Range in two years. He previously led the Advanced Echelon for the USSF Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) at Patrick Space Force Base. This donation marks the first time a current USSF uniform has been given to a civilian-accessible regional museum, according to SFA.
The event will open with a Colors presentation by U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol Cadets. Florida State Senator Tom Wright (District 8), chair of the Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, will attend as a guest. The program will include a briefing on SFA and USSF activities in the Space Coast region, followed by a reception. The public and press are invited to attend.
SFA emphasized the significance of the donation, noting that most USSF uniforms in museums come from family memorials or federal repositories. The uniform from SMSgt Bottoms will be displayed at VMEC, which is located at 302 Vermont Avenue in Daytona Beach. The ceremony aims to highlight the role of the Space Force in the region and its connection to local history.