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For the past few years the St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce has held a reception at the St. Clement’s Island Museum in Colton’s Point. This year’s event was somewhat different. For one thing it was held inside. But there was a reason for that. The museum was showing of a special Presidential Collection and organizers of the event wanted everyone to see that first hand. The Friends of the St. Clement's Island and Piney Point Museums co-hosted the chamber along with  BB&T.

The exhibit featured the private collection of presidential memorabilia from the Roberto L. G. Lizama family.  The story of Mr. Lizama is an amazing one, according to Kim Cullins, the museum’s marketing and development specialist. She said, “Mr. Lizama was an immigrant from Guam with a 7th grade education who ended up working in the White House for three American Presidents!  He was a cook in the Navy when he met a young Naval officer, one John F. Kennedy, and after feeding him an after-hours meal and exchanging stories, JFK vowed that when he left the Navy, he would be president some day and would come calling for him....and he kept his promise!”

Cullins knows Mr. Lizama's son Stan Lizama through dealing with him at his job at the Enterprise newspaper. One thing led to another and Stan Lizama, a Calvert County resident, agreed to loan a portion of his father’s collection to the museum for the chamber event on August 22 and an extended show this past weekend and through August 23. He also brought some special items for the chamber members to see that were not part of the exhibit.

The Chamber members packed the museum and enjoyed not only the Presidential Exhibit but also the many other displays recording the history of the Potomac River and the county. The museum is located at the end of Route 242. Hours are:10 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week from March 25 through September and noon-4 p.m. October through March 24., For more information visit http://www.co.saint-marys.md.us/recreate/stclementsisland.asp the website of the Museum Division of the St. Mary’s County Department fo recreation and Parks, which operates the museum.