Courtesy of: Museum of the American Military Family & Learning Center

NASHVILLE, TN—May 2019—The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) proudly announces that the Museum of the American Military Family & Learning Center in Tijeras, New Mexico,  is the recipient of an Award of Excellence for  its short film, “Love Song for the Dead”. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards, now in its 74th year, is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history. 

“Love Song for the Dead”is a short 10 minute-long documentary film which weaves together military family stories and original music, creating a compelling musical reflection of the sacrifices of New Mexico’s deceased service members. It was a collaboration between the museum and a film intern from Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM.

This is the second award in as many years for the museum. Last year it received the  2018 Albert B. Corey Award, which is “named in honor of a founder and former president of the American Association of State and Local History (AASLH), it recognizes primarily volunteer-operated organizations that best display the qualities of vigor, scholarship, and imagination in their work. The Leadership in History Awards committee presents the Corey Award at their discretion.”

This year, AASLH is proud to confer fifty national awards honoring people, projects, exhibits, and publications. The winners represent the best in the field and provide leadership for the future of state and local history. Presentation of the awards will be made at a special banquet during the 2019 AASLH Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA, on Friday, August 30. The banquet is supported by a generous contribution from the History Channel.

The AASLH awards program was initiated in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout the United States. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards not only honor significant achievement in the field of state and local history, but also bring public recognition of the opportunities for small and large organizations, institutions, and programs to make contributions in this arena. For more information about the Leadership in History Awards, contact AASLH at 615-320-3203, or go to www.aaslh.org.

The American Association for State and Local History is a not-for-profit professional organization of individuals and institutions working to preserve and promote history. From its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, AASLH provides leadership, service, and support for its members who preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful to all people. AASLH publishes books, technical publications, a quarterly magazine, and maintains numerous affinity communities and committees serving a broad range of constituents across the historical community. The association also sponsors an annual meeting, regional and national training in-person workshops, and online training.

The Museum of the American Military Family & Learning Center is an all-volunteer  501 (c) 3 non-profit entity and recognizes , honors  and serves the families who stand beside our nation’s soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coast guardsmen. It serves as a forum for the spouses, children, parents, grandparents, and others who have loved and supported a member of the military. It is a repository of stories, letters, documents, and photos of military family members throughout our nation’s history. The museum honors the countless men, women, and children who serve beside America’s service members. It tells their stories, which sees history through a different lens—and it draws attention to their unique culture and needs—and shows the good and the bad side of military life.  

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