Speaker Spotlight – Betsy Ford Maine

The Xemplar Club was honored to welcome Betsy Ford Maine as our first speaker of the season. Betsy, a retired attorney from Grand Rapids, shared the remarkable story of her father, Dale V. Ford, one of the U.S. Army’s Monuments Men.

Her presentation highlighted the Monuments Men’s mission to recover art and cultural treasures looted by the Nazis during World War II. Betsy’s father served in Europe, helping to preserve and return priceless works, including stained glass, paintings, and even a Rembrandt self-portrait. She also described the continued legacy of this work, with thousands of pieces of art still missing today.

Betsy brought her father’s journey to life with photos, stories, and reflections on the honor of seeing his contributions recognized in books, the film The Monuments Men, and even at the World War II Museum. Her talk was both educational and deeply inspiring, reminding us of the importance of preserving history for future generations