WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--There are an estimated 1.8 million Purple Heart recipients, combat wounded service members who have transitioned back into civilian life. They have made great sacrifices to ensure our freedoms, but often go unrecognized. The road to recovery and reintegration into their communities can be a long and difficult struggle for our nation’s wounded warriors and their families.
On Saturday, May 28, at 4:00 PM, The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), and Wounded Warrior Family Support (WWFS) will jointly host a ceremony to welcome the Purple Heart Run to Washington, DC at the end of a month-long, 6,700 mile, coast-to-coast tour to raise awareness of the costs of war and promote the tour’s motto, “Mobility is Freedom.” The welcome ceremony to will be held at the iconic Iwo Jima Memorial, Arlington Blvd. and Meade St., Arlington, VA. The Public and the Media are invited to join us to view the ceremony and sign the truck.
At the ceremony, the MOPH National Commander Bob Puskar will present the keys to the truck to LCPL Nicholas Thom, a combat wounded veteran and double amputee from the war in Afghanistan. Patriot Thom was selected to receive the truck after a nationwide call for nominees who had received the Purple Heart medal. In attendance will be a number of local officials, and a large number of Purple Heart recipients from across the nation.
The focus of the 2016 “Purple Heart Run” was “Mobility is Freedom.” Sponsored jointly by the Military Order of the Purple Heart and Wounded Warriors Family Support, the Purple Heart Run features a mobility-equipped, 2015 Ford F-150 Super Cab truck, adapted to suit combat-wounded veterans who are paralyzed or have lost legs or arms. Our belief is that, given the right vehicle for mobility, a combat-wounded veteran will have the freedom to live a productive and quality life with his or her family.
The truck was driven during the first half of the trip by Cpl Tyler Huffman (USMC, Ret.), a combat wounded and paralyzed veteran of the war in Afghanistan, and on the second half by Captain Joe Tidwell (USA, Ret.), a combat wounded and disabled veteran of the Vietnam War. The Purple Heart Run has made its way from coast-to-coast and back, rallying communities to thank our country’s military veterans and support this great mission. The Purple Heart Run began in Mount Vernon, VA, on May 2, traversed the nation to California and now is returning to end in Washington, D.C. on Memorial Day weekend.
The mission of Wounded Warrior Family Support (WWFS) is to provide support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured or killed during combat operations. The families of our casualties suffer in many ways: some financially, some psychologically, and the overwhelming stress of the recovery process can threaten to tear a family apart. Programs include: A Family Retreat program to provide vacation retreats, free of charge; a Caregiver Respite Program to provide respite and supplemental services nationwide to the caregivers and families of wounded war veterans; and the “Mobility is Freedom” program which provides grants to qualified combat-wounded veterans for the purchase of a Ford vehicle, specially adapted to suit veterans who are paralyzed or have lost legs or arms. To learn more or to make a donation, go online to www.wwfs.org.
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 Purple Heart medal. Chartered by 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 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. To learn more or to make a donation, go online to www.purpleheart.org.
