The Army Heritage Center Foundation and the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center (USAHEC), located in Carlisle, PA, are proud to announce that USAHEC was recently awarded TripAdvisor's 2013 Certificate of Excellence and earned the top ranking for an attraction in the Carlisle community.

TripAdvisor is the world's largest travel website. Its Certificate of Excellence award celebrates hospitality excellence and is given to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor. Only the top 10 percent of businesses listed on the site receive the prestigious award. To qualify for the Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travelers on TripAdvisor website. Additional criteria that determine a location's ranking include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months.

USAHEC joins the ranks of Leo's Ice Cream, also of Carlisle, in being recognized by TripAdvisor. The travel website recently listed Leo's Ice Cream as one of the Top 10 ice cream shops in the United States, based on the reviews and opinions of TripAdvisor travelers.

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

The Military Heritage Foundation, doing business as the Army Heritage Center Foundation, is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) that, through donated support, is funding the construction of the public components of the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center-the Visitor and Education Center (VEC) and the Army Heritage Center. As the phased construction program is completed, the Foundation transfers these facilities to the Army to operate, staff, and maintain as part of the Center. The Foundation will then focus on "margin of excellence support" to meet the needs of educational programs and other activities at USAHEC where federal funds are inadequate or unavailable.

The Foundation completed its Voices of the Past capital campaign in 2010, with the construction of Phase One 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.

The Foundation is now seeking grants and donations for its Build on Success Campaign to build Phase Two of the Visitor and Education Center and to create an endowment to sustain and enhance educational programs. The Foundation's education program coordinates National History Day in Pennsylvania, complements the Center's programs and exhibits, and is a state approved continuing education provider. The Foundation also supports and enhances 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 this 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, 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.