Military Heritage Foundation

TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE U.S. ARMY HERITAGE AND EDUCATION CENTER (USAHEC) AND ITS PROGRAMS AND TO SUSTAIN AND ENHANCE THE CENTER'S AND THE FOUNDATION'S ABILITY TO INFORM AND EDUCATE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ON THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF SOLDIERS AND THE U.S. ARMY TO OUR NATION.

SUPPORT TO THE U.S. ARMY. THE ARMY HERITAGE CENTER FOUNDATION CONTINUED ITS EFFORTS IN 2023 TO SUPPORT THE U.S. ARMY BY ADVANCING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE U.S. ARMY HERITAGE AND EDUCATION CENTER (USAHEC); PROMOTING THE CENTER AS A MAJOR RESEARCH CENTER; AND ENHANCING ITS COLLECTIONS, PROGRAMS, AND OUTREACH. IN 2023, THE FOUNDATION EXPENDED $217,238 TO SUPPORT THESE OBJECTIVES, WHICH INCLUDED $61,337 OF CONTRIBUTED SERVICES. AT THE NOVEMBER 2022 BOARD MEETING, THE TIMELINE OF THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN THAT WILL SUPPORT THE FUTURE EXPANSION OF THE HALL OF THE AMERICAN SOLDIER - A 30,000 SQUARE FOOT, WAS EXTENDED IN 2026 OR BEYOND DUE TO SIGNIFICANT COST ESCALATION AND COVID RESTRICTIONS ON FUNDRAISING THAT HAD LIMITED TRAVEL AND IN PERSON CONVERSATIONS. THE FOUNDATION DID, HOWEVER, SEEK AND OBTAIN A COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA REDEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE CAPITAL PROGRAM MATCHING GRANT (RACP) TO ENHANCE THE SPACE AROUND THE EVENT PAVILION AND IMPROVE HANDICAP ACCESS TO THE LOCATION. GRANT CONTRACT AT THE END OF 2023 WITH THE COMMONWEALTH WAS PENDING. THE FOUNDATION'S ACTIVE ROLE WORKING WITH POTENTIAL DONORS OF ARTIFACT, MANUSCRIPT, AND LIBRARY COLLECTIONS WAS MAINTAINED. IN 2023, THE FOUNDATION FACILITATED 56 IN-KIND DONATIONS THAT WERE PROCESSED AND/OR TRANSFERRED TO THE ARMY WITH A VALUE OF $6,010.41.

OTHER GENERAL PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDED FUNDS TO SUPPORT PUBLIC, MEMBER, AND FOUNDATION FOCUSED PROGRAMS. THESE INCLUDED EXPENSES OF STAFF TIME PERFORMING RESEARCH FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, PRESENTING LECTURES AND BRIEFINGS TO A VARIETY OF GROUPS, NEWSLETTERS TO FOUNDATION MEMBERS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS. THE FOUNDATION'S LECTURE PROGRAM CONTINUED TO PROVIDE NATIONAL SUPPORT THROUGH WEBINARS. DURING 2023, THE FOUNDATION HOSTED 16 LECTURE PROGRAMS. MORE THAN 1,200 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS ATTENDED THE LECTURES AT THE TIME OF THEIR PRESENTATION, AND MORE THAN 43,800 VIEWED THE PRESENTATIONS WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THEIR POSTING ON THE FOUNDATION'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL. IN 2023, THE FOUNDATION HOSTED TWO ON SITE DINNERS. THE ARMY BIRTHDAY PROGRAM FEATURED A CIVIL WAR ERA REENACTOR BRASS BAND. IN NOVEMBER 2023, THE FOUNDATION'S MEMBERSHIP AND RECOGNITION DINNER OCCURRED WITH HONORING BG ROBERT STEWART, USA RETIRED, THE ARMY'S FIRST ACTIVE DUTY ASTRONAUT, AND OPERATION DEPLOY YOUR DRESS FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE WITH OBTAINING AND DONATING FORMALWEAR FOR MILITARY BALLS.ALSO CONTINUING IN 2023 WAS THE FOUNDATION'S SUPPORT OF ARMY MANDATED BATTLEFIELD STAFF RIDES FOR TO BE COMMISSIONED ROTC CADETS. THE FOUNDATION PARTNERED WITH TRAINED AND LICENSED GETTYSBURG BATTLEFIELD GUIDES TO PROVIDE FACILITATORS FOR THE STAFF RIDES. CADETS ALSO VISIT USAHEC TO LEARN ABOUT THE CENTER. SOME EVEN STAY IN THE ONSITE REPLICA WWII BARRACKS TO OFFSET LODGING COSTS. IN 2023, THE FOUNDATION HOSTED 26 SCHOOLS FOR THESE STAFF RIDES. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION PARTNERED FOR OR HOSTED ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE FOUNDATION PARTNERED WITH AUSA HUNTSVILLE CHAPTER IN MAY FOR A PROGRAM IN ALABAMA FOCUSING ON VETERANS OF THE VIETNAM WAR'S BATTLE OF THE IA DRANG. IN SEPTEMBER, THE FOUNDATION PRESENTED A PROGRAM ON CRISIS LEADERSHIP IN OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI. AT THE AUSA NATIONAL CONVENTION HELD IN OCTOBER IN WASHINGTON, DC. THE FOUNDATION HOSTED A PROGRAM DRAWING ATTENTION TO VETERANS OF THE BATTLE OF MOGADISHU. LASTLY, IN NOVEMBER, THE FOUNDATION HOSTED GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS, USA RETIRED FOR A BOOK TALK AT USAHEC.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMSTHE FOUNDATION'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS CONTINUED TO PROMOTE THE USE OF USAHEC'S COLLECTIONS, THE STUDY OF HISTORY, AND OUTREACH TO STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON A LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL BASIS. THE FOUNDATION EXPENDED $175,191 ON THESE INITIATIVES.FOR 2023, THE FOUNDATION AGAIN MANAGED THE NATIONAL HISTORY DAY IN PENNSYLVANIA (NHD IN PA) PROGRAM. FOUNDATION STAFF WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS FACILITATED REGIONAL CONTESTS AND PLANNED AND EXECUTED THE STATE CONTEST AT SCRANTON UNIVERSITY. THE CONTEST AT THE STATE LEVEL SUPPORTED APPROXIMATELY 570 STUDENTS AND STUDENT TEAMS AND RESULTED IN 62 ATTENDING THE NATIONAL CONTEST THAT CONTINUED AS A VIRTUAL EVENT. AS A COMPONENT OF NATIONAL HISTORY DAY, THE STAFF ALSO CONTINUED ITS QUARTERLY TEACHER WORKSHOP PROGRAM IN 2023 TO INCLUDE BOTH ONSITE AND VIRTUAL PROGRAM. FINALLY, IN ITS EFFORTS TO BUILD A COLLECTION OF SOLDIER STORIES ON THE FOUNDATION'S WEBSITE THAT ARE AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO USERS THE FOUNDATION ADDED 5 STORIES TO THE PAGE.THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE EDUCATION PROGRAM CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN ITS INTERACTION WITH VETERANS AND STUDENTS. OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH CUMBERLAND VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL CONTINUED, AND IN 2023, WE PAIRED 36 STUDENTS AND 18 VETERANS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE VETERANS ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM. THE VETERANS' CAFE THAT IN THE PAST BROUGHT VETERANS OF ALL SERVICES AND ERAS TOGETHER TO ENJOY A MEAL TOGETHER AND SHARE STORIES OF SERVICE TRANSITIONED BACK TO IN PERSON EVENTS WITH 6 ON SITE PROGRAMS. FINALLY, THE FOUNDATION'S SOLDIER EXPERIENCE HISTORY SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM EXPANDED AND IN 2023, 122 CAMPERS PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM (WEEKLONG, EVENING, AND WEEKEND SESSIONS).

MUSEUM STOREIN 2023, THE MUSEUM STORE CONTINUED TO FACE CHALLENGES DUE TO CONTINUED REDUCED ONSITE VISITATION. THE STORE LOST $39,526.00 IN CY23.