Members Gather for the Foundation’s 2008 Annual Meeting
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Above: Former Sec. of Defense James R. Schlesinger and LTC William Yarborough (USA-Ret.)
Below: Michele Munsch (left), David L. Hunter (right), and the Foundation's Rachel Hartmann (middle)
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About 150 members, friends, and benefactors of The Army Historical Foundation gathered on the evening of June 10, 2008 for the Foundation’s 25th Silver Anniversary Celebration and Annual Members’ Meeting & Dinner. The reception and dinner were held at the exclusive Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Va. and included a tour of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial.
Among those in attendance were former Secretary of Defense James R. Schlesinger, LTG Julius Becton (USA-Ret.), author of the autobiography Becton: A Soldier and Public Servant, and CSM Paul A. Tolovi (USA-Ret), who recently donated $50,000 to the National Museum of the United States Army.
As one of the major benefits of Foundation membership, The Annual Meeting serves not only as a chance for members to get to know each other over dinner, but also to hear from Army and Foundation leadership. Accordingly, Army Chief of Staff GEN George W. Casey and Foundation President GEN William W. Hartzog (USA-Ret.) were on hand to address the members.
Casey reminded the meeting’s attendees that the week of June 8-14 marked the 233rd birthday of the Army and he saluted the “14 generations of Americans who have served in times of peace and war.” In reflecting on his recent Memorial Day visit to the Washington, DC war memorials, Casey said, “I was struck by how lucky this country is to have generations upon generations of Americans who will sacrifice their lives for their nation.” He illustrated the Army’s long-spanning history and the character of its Soldiers by referring to both the first ever recipient of the Medal of Honor – Army Surgeon Bernard J. D. Irwin who, in 1861, rescued 60 men from Cochise and his Apache warriors – and the most recent recipient – Specialist Ross A. McGinness who saved the lives of four comrades when he threw himself on a grenade in Iraq last year.
Casey also updated the audience on the current status of the US Army around the world. He described today’s Army as “a hugely resilient and professional force,” and added, “I am very proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with these men and women.”
Hartzog followed Casey at the speaker’s podium and discussed the progress of the Capital Campaign for the National Army Museum, which has raised approximately $30 million to this point. Pending legislation having to do with both the Campaign’s Army Commemorative Coin and its States Honoring Veterans program could prove profitable and Hartzog urged members to contact their representatives in Congress to ask their support of the bills.
Hartzog also looked back on 25 years of Foundation history and recognized its first Executive Director, COL Ray Bluhm, Jr. (USA-Ret.), and Chief Historian Matthew Seelinger, who is the Foundation’s longest serving employee.
The event also provided an opportunity to recognize the winners of the 2008 Distinguished Writing Awards. Book awards went to Donald B. Connelly, Stephen R. Taafee, and Andrew Birtle; Article awards went to LTC Wm. Shane Story and Meredith Mason Brown; LTG Richard G. Trefry Awards were given to George F. Hofmann and Harry M. Ward.
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