Army Heritage Center Foundation Announces 2012 Honorees

June 11, 2012 - PRLog -- Carlisle, PA – The Board of Directors of the Army Heritage Center Foundation is pleased to announce the slate of honorees that the Foundation will recognize at its 5th Annual Membership Dinner on September 14, 2012.

Former Pennsylvania Governor and Secretary of Homeland Security, the Honorable Thomas Ridge will accept the Foundation’s Armstrong Award. The award is named for MG John Armstrong, 1725-1795, who as a Soldier, a Statesman, a Pioneer, and a Leader shaped the development of this region and the Nation. The Armstrong Award is being presented to Governor Ridge for his efforts in promoting the development of the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center.

CSM Jeffrey Mellinger, USA Ret., the last Vietnam era “draftee” to retire from active service, will receive the Living Legend Award for his unwavering service to his country. CSM Mellinger retired from the Army in 2011 after more than 38 years of service.  His contributions as a “draftee” and the excellent record of his service symbolize the contributions of generations of Soldiers that were called to serve our nation through the Selective Service.

The Army Arlington Ladies will accept the Foundation’s Boots on the Ground Award, which recognizes individuals or organizations who make a very positive contribution to the lives of many Soldiers. Since 1972, a representative of the Army Arlington Ladies has stood graveside at every Army Soldier’s funeral at Arlington National Cemetery.  They have ensured that the contributions of all Soldiers as members of the Army Family are remembered.

The Dinner will be held at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg in Camp Hill to honor Veterans past and present, those who support Soldiers, and those who support the Army Heritage Center Foundation and the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center in “Telling the Army Story . . . one Soldier at a time.”

Dinner sponsorship opportunities are available.

About the Foundation and U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center

The Army Heritage Center Foundation continues to strive to expand the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center (USAHEC) campus and enhance its programs. The Foundation, which also serves as the project manager for privately funded construction projects on the campus, completed its Voices of the Past capital campaign in 2010 with the construction of the first phase of the Visitor and Education Center, a key component of the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center campus. Opened to the public on May 20, 2011, the Visitor and Education Center is the focal point for the campus, containing the first large exhibit gallery, and hosting educational activities on the USAHEC Campus. In the fall of 2011, the Foundation launched its Build on Success capital campaign to build Phase Two of the Visitor and Education Center.

The Foundation’s development program seeks grants and donations to build Phase Two of the Visitor and Education Center, support construction of the Heritage Center, and create an endowment to sustain and enhance educational programs. The Foundation’s education program coordinates the National History Day in Pennsylvania competition, complements the Center’s programs and exhibits by providing teachers educational material from the USAHEC collection and is a state approved continuing education provider. The Foundation also supports and enhances the USAHEC’s public outreach by supporting marketing initiatives and serving as a public advocate of the Center’s mission and programs. Learn more about the Foundation at www.armyheritage.org.

USAHEC is dedicated to educating and preserving the legacy of the men and women who have served their nation as Soldiers. The Center's mission is to educate a broad audience on the heritage of the Army by acquiring, preserving, and making available historical records, materials, and artifacts. A unique Army and public asset, the USAHEC is the Army’s only historical organization chartered to acquire and preserve the personal history of our Soldiers through their photos, letters, diaries, and artifacts. USAHEC staff then makes these resources available to the public through accessible archives, engaging education programs, and world-class interpretive displays.

Learn more about USAHEC at www.usahec.org.