Army Heritage Center Foundation Salutes Sen. McCormick, Tunnel to Towers at Evening of Honor

(CAMP HILL, PA) – As a West Point graduate, Gulf War veteran, successful businessman and popular elected official who has already made an outsized impact in the U.S. Senate, U.S. Dave McCormick accepted the 2026 “Living Legend Award,” from the Army Heritage Center Foundation at the Penn Harris Hotel and Convention Center in Camp Hill, PA.

The Pittsburgh native has been serving as the junior senator from Pennsylvania since 2025, after rising to the top of his field as a businessman, federal official and former Army officer.  He has the distinction of being one of only two West Point graduates now serving in the U.S. Senate, graduating in 1987.

McCormick served in Iraq during the Gulf War, earning a Bronze Star as part of the 82^nd Airborne Division. He also earned a Ph.D. from Princeton University.  From 2005 to 2009, he held several key positions in the administration of President George W. Bush, including as Undersecretary of the Treasury for International Affairs.

"Senator Dave McCormick’s life story is one of service in its fullest sense,” said Julie Germany, president of the Army Heritage Center Foundation in Carlisle, PA.  “From his time as a paratrooper in the 82^nd Airborne Division during the Gulf War to his continued service in the U.S. Senate, McCormick has demonstrated courage, patriotism, and devotion to country.”

Gov. Haley Barbour, who served as Mississippi’s governor from 2004 to 2012, and is now a valued member of the National Advisory Board for the Army Heritage Center Foundation, said, “Senator Dave McCormick had a spectacularly successful career in business after his service in the U.S. Army, and now he is off to a great start as a serious, effective, conservative United States Senator.”
 
“The 2026 Living Legend Award recognizes individuals whose leadership leaves a lasting mark, and Senator McCormick is richly deserving of that distinction,” Germany added. “His example reminds us that true leadership means answering the call to serve something greater than oneself."
 
Sen. McCormick expressed his gratitude for the award, saying, “Service to our country has shaped my life and remains one of my greatest honors. I’m deeply honored to receive the 2026 Living Legend Award and grateful to the Army Heritage Center Foundation for preserving the stories and sacrifices of those who have defended our freedom.” 
 
Of Tunnel to Towers’ award, Germany said, “There is no more fitting recipient on this 25th anniversary year of 9/11 than the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which has spent the last quarter century assisting Gold Star families, the families of fallen first responders, and catastrophically injured veterans and first responders with housing and support programs.”
 
T2T Executive Vice President Gavin Naples, Esq., issued this statement on the award:
 
“It is with great pride that Tunnel to Towers will soon bring housing and vital supportive services to the veterans of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Harrisburg Veterans Village will offer affordable housing and comprehensive, 24/7 wraparound services to those who have honorably served our nation. Supporting our veterans is more than just a mission for our Foundation — it is a privilege and responsibility we hold close to our hearts. For that reason, we strive to cultivate an environment in which our veterans can prosper, regain their independence, and successfully transition to civilian life.   
 
We are deeply honored and humbled that The Army Heritage Center Foundation has selected Tunnel to Towers as the recipient of this year's "Boots on the Ground" award. This recognition is a meaningful acknowledgement of the dedication and generosity of everyone who makes our work possible. We are sincerely grateful and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to making a lasting, positive difference in the lives of our nation's veterans and first responders.”
 
The Army Heritage Center Foundation is a nonprofit devoted to sharing the stories of U.S. Army soldiers from all eras, fostering understanding and building meaningful connections between the military and civilian communities. It is a private, non-governmental entity that is not affiliated with the Department of Defense.  For more information on AHCF, please visit www.armyheritage.org.  
 
 
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The Army Heritage Center Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit dedicated to sharing the stories of U.S. Army soldiers from all eras, fostering understanding and building meaningful connections between the military and civilian communities. The primary beneficiary of the foundation’s philanthropic contributions is the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, which collects, preserves, and presents materials related to the evolution and application of land power as well as the experiences of American soldiers, to build a foundation for strategic thought and to connect the public to the U.S. Army.  The Army Heritage Center Foundation (armyheritage.org) is a charitable organization separate from the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center.  As a private, nonprofit, non-Federal entity, AHCF is not affiliated with the Department of Defense and has no governmental status.