WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Wednesday, November 11th, Veterans’ Day, the Military Order of the Purple Heart was honored by the Mission Complete Organization with the presentation of its first ever Veteran’s Award to a Veteran Service Organization at the Inaugural Veterans Awards Ceremony in Washington, DC.
“The Veterans Awards celebrates the heroes of our Armed Forces, their families, and the community of organizations that salute their valor,” according to the Mission Complete website. “This annual Veterans Awards ceremony will honor one organization or program for its true cooperation and collaboration in the community of Veteran Service Organizations.” This year, the Military Order of the Purple Heart was selected to be the first Veteran Service Organization so honored at a star studded 1940’s style white tie awards ceremony and dinner at George Washington University. It is anticipated that this powerful ceremony, celebrating our nation's dedication to our Service Members, is poised to become a tradition for years on end.
Guest presenters included Hollywood stars Colin Egglesfield and Kate Walsh, who noted that “The Military Order of the Purple Heart not only excels at their daily mission, but also by extending a helping hand to other organizations as evidence of their integrity and character. Chartered by Congress in 1958, this organization is composed of military men and women who received the Purple Heart Medal for wounds suffered in combat. Although their membership is restricted to the combat wounded, they support all veterans and their families with a myriad of nation-wide programs by Chapters and National Service Officers. The Order also has made it its mission to safeguard the honor of Purple Heart medal itself and all members of our Armed Forces who have received the award.”
MOPH National Commander Robert Puskar noted that he was “honored to accept the Veterans Award on behalf of the 46,000 members and Associate Members of the Order, the Ladies Auxiliary, and the Purple Heart Foundation.” He noted that, “By selecting the MOPH for its first Veteran Service Organization award, Mission Complete truly honors, not just the service and sacrifice of our combat wounded Patriot members, all of whom received the Purple Heart medal defending the rights and freedoms of all Americans, but also our continued service to all veterans and their families by protecting and defending all the benefits they earned by that service and sacrifice.”
The "Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A. Inc.," (MOPH) was formed in 1932 for the protection and mutual interest of all combat wounded veterans and active duty men and women who have received the decoration. Chartered by the Congress, The MOPH is unique among Veteran Service Organizations in that all its members were wounded in combat. For this sacrifice, they were awarded the Purple Heart Medal. With grants from the MOPH Service Foundation, the MOPH and its Ladies Auxiliary promote Patriotism, Fraternalism, and the Preservation of America's military history. Most importantly, through veteran service, they provide comfort and assistance to all Veterans and their families, especially those requiring claims assistance with the VA, those who are homeless, and those requiring employment assistance. Programs of the MOPH include VA Volunteer Service, JROTC Leadership Awards, Scholarships, Americanism, Purple Heart Trail and Cities, Welfare, and numerous community service programs, all with the objective of service to Veterans and their families.
