Our History
Since its founding in 1997 as the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Inc., the National Purple Heart Honor Mission has been dedicated to paying tribute to our nation’s combat wounded through special outreach and educational programs. The organization was the driving force behind the establishment and later the expansion of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor located just north of West Point, NY near the historic site where General George Washington first awarded the Badge of Military Merit in 1782.
The organization also played a significant role in the creation of the Purple Heart Forever stamp passed by the U.S. Congress and issued by the U.S. Postal Service in 2014. In 2020, the National Purple Heart Honor Mission led the effort to pass the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Act through Congress and have it signed by the President. This historic effort created the nation’s first official commemorative coin honoring our Purple Heart heroes, which were minted by the U.S. Treasury in 2022.
The National Purple Heart Honor Mission’s various awareness and tribute programs aim to ensure that those who sacrificed for our country are never forgotten.
Through Purple Heart Patriot Project Missions, celebration of National Purple Heart Day and other public events and programs, we engage people of all ages by telling the stories of our nation’s heroes.
The Honor Mission is an approved 501(c)3 national non-profit organization.
“You have brought a smile and a ray of hope to individuals that will remember this for a long time. Thank you.”
Our Sponsors
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Our Leadership
Officers
Jeremy McVey*, Board Chairman
Col. Russell Vernon (USA Ret.), Executive Director
Dan Clarino*, First Vice President
Nathan Parker, Second Vice President
Peter Olympia, Board Treasurer
1st. Lt. Edie Meeks (ANC Ret.), Board Secretary
* Purple Heart Recipient
** Medal of Honor Recipient
Emeritus
Board of Directors
Jason Gilliland
Glen Heller, Esq.
Beth Jennings
Ken Kanners
Luke Lyons
SGM Mary Kay Messenger, (USA Ret.)
Robert T. Quinn
Col. Hugh G. Robinson, Jr. (USA Ret.)
John Sergi
Thomas Weddell
Paul W. Bucha* **
Joseph R. Farina
Lt. Gen. James D. Hughes* (USAF, Ret.)
William Kaplan
Senator William J. Larkin Jr., (LTC, USA Ret.)
Richard D. Lay*
Everett Smith