Press Releases
"Gettysburg native Stephen R. Maitland has joined the staff of the Army Heritage Center Foundation as a Development Officer. Maitland joins the Foundation to support the development of the Army Heritage and Education Center (AHEC) in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Maitland's primary responsibilities will be to raise major charitable and philanthropic gifts to construct the Visitor and Education Center and the Army Heritage Museum, as well as to endow the ongoing education programs. "I am excited to play such a key role in the development of such a world-class facility and program the preserves the history of the United States Army, honors soldiers and their families, and informs and educates the public," Maitland said.
The AHEC is a 56-acre military history, education and cultural campus being created in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Secretary of the Army Thomas White announced the development of the AHEC in October 2001. Partners in the project include the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Cumberland Country and private corporations, foundations and individuals. When fully developed the Center will include five components:
- Military History Institute - a research library and archives for personal papers of Soldiers and their families.
- Visitor and Education Center - the visitors' 'front door' to the complex
- Army Heritage Museum - a museum that will tell the Army's story one soldier at a time
- Army Heritage Trail - an outdoor venue to support education, living history, and interpretive programs
- Conservation Laboratory - a facility to meet the Army's obligation to preserve items entrusted to its care
The complex is being developed to honor the service and sacrifice of Soldiers and their families by sharing their personal stories; to preserve and make available for study artifacts and archival materials; to educate and inspire visitors especially school children in grades 5-12; and to promote greater heritage tourism regionally and across the nation.
The Army Heritage Center Foundation is a not-for profit 501(c) (3) that leads a public-private partnership that, through donated support, will fund the construction of the public components of the complex -- The Visitor and Education Center and the Army Heritage Museum. When constructed, the Foundation will transfer these facilities to the Army to operate and maintain. Once the construction program is complete, the Foundation will focus on providing "margin of excellence support" to meet the needs of educational programs and other activities at the AHEC where federal funds are unavailable."