The Army Historical Foundation held its Fifteenth Annual Members’ Meeting and Awards Dinner on 3 June 2012 at Mount Vernon.  Approximately 150 members, guests and AHF staff attended this year’s meeting.

Prior to the meeting, attendees had the opportunity to tour the grounds, mansion, and museum at Mount Vernon.  Specialized tours on George Washington’s accomplishments and the slave experience at Mount Vernon were also available for guests.

Following the singing of the National Anthem by Master Sergeant Antonio Giuliano, USA, of the U.S. Army Chorus, AHF Executive Director  Brigadier General Creighton W. Abrams, Jr., USA-Ret., opened the meeting by reviewing the Foundation’s activities over the past year, including a report on the Capital Campaign of the National Museum of the United States Army.  He then announced the winning  authors of the 2011 AHF Distinguished Writing Awards, four of whom were present to accept their awards—John Nelson Rickard, Lieutenant Colonel Clayton R. Newell, USA-Ret., Lewis Sorley, and Rebecca C. Raines.  Brigadier General Abrams also announced that the U.S. Army Engineer Museum, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, was the winner of the 2012 AHF Excellence in Museums Award for its museum recovery efforts after Fort Leonard Wood was struck by a tornado.  He then closed his remarks by presenting the 2012 AHF President’s Award to AHF Vice President Jody Davis for her long and dedicated service to the Foundation as an officer on the AHF Board of Directors.

Brigadier General Abrams’s remarks were followed by the meeting’s guest speaker, Dr. James Jay Carafano, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and twenty-five-year  Army veteran, who served as a field artillery officer, as well as a speech writer for the Army Chief of Staff and executive editor of Joint Force Quarterly.  He holds a Ph.D. in Diplomatic History from Georgetown University, has taught at several universities and professional military schools, and is the author of eight books on military history and national security issues.  He is currently the director of The Heritage Foundation’s Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies.  Dr. Carafano’s remarks focused on the connection between Army history and Army values, doctrine, and leadership.  He concluded his presentation stressing the importance of the National Museum of the United States Army in educating  future soldiers and the American people about service and sacrifices to the nation.  Following his remarks, Brigadier General Abrams presented Dr. Carafano with a framed and signed print of 1st Continental Rifle Regiment, Summer-Winter 1776, by renowned military artist Don Troiani.

After the conclusion of the meeting, attendees enjoyed the gorgeous late spring evening with cocktails outside followed by dinner in the Mount Vernon Inn.  After dinner, attendees received a print of Treacherous Corner, signed by the U.S. Army Center of Military History’s Artist-in-Residence, Master Sergeant Martin J. Cervantez, USA.  The original 2009 oil on canvas is part of the Army Art Collection.