For nearly three decades, the National Purple Heart Honor Mission has been dedicated to paying tribute to our nation’s combat wounded and those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Through a variety of programs and initiatives we ensure their stories of valor are never forgotten.
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor
Our organization’s original goal was the establishment of a museum dedicated to the courage and sacrifice of all our nation’s Purple Heart recipients. The process of creating the Hall of Honor began in 1997 and over ten years, with the vision and tenacity of our organization’s founders, The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor opened in 2006. The organization, in partnership with Genesis Group member, the late New York State Senator William Larkin, Jr., was instrumental in securing $10 million in funding to expand the museum to include all branches of our military services and again for a $17 million expansion project that included new exhibits, improved visitor circulation, and enhanced audio-visual displays. The expanded Hall of Honor officially reopened on Veterans Day, November 11, 2020.
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coins
U.S. Mint Acting Director Ventris Gibson (U.S. Navy) joined Honor Mission Board members Richie Lay (CPL, U.S. Marine Corps), Dan Clarino (CPL, U.S. Marine Corps), Edie Meeks (1LT, U.S. Army Nurse Corps) and Honor Mission Executive Director Russ Vernon (COL, U.S. Army) to unveil the 2022 National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coins on the set of Fox & Friends.
The National Purple Heart Honor Mission led the historic effort to develop the nation’s first U.S. Mint-issued commemorative coins honoring our Purple Heart heroes. As a result of this effort and the help of people from across the country, the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Act was passed by Congress and signed into law in December 2020.
These limited-edition legal tender coins, unveiled on Veterans Day 2021, were authorized in three denominations - $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins – and sold directly from the United States Mint. Each coin, designed in consultation with Purple Heart recipients, tells the story of the Purple Heart and pays tribute to our heroes from across the generations.
The Purple Heart Commemorative Coin series remains one of the most successful selling commemorative coins issued by the U.S. Mint. The coins serve as a lasting tribute to our nation’s heroes.
Purple Heart Patriot Project Missions
In 2019, the Honor Mission launched its first Purple Heart Patriot Project Mission. These all-expenses-paid trips provides Purple Heart recipients from across the country to visit the museum dedicated to their service, the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, and other historic sites associated with the Purple Heart.
Selected for their courage, service and example, both during combat operations and in the years since returning home, honorees have an experience that has been called “the trip of a lifetime.” The Patriot Project brings together Purple Heart heroes from across the generations and features visits to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, Washington’s Headquarters where the Badge of Military Merit originated in 1782, the 9/11 Memorial and other notable locations.
Each mission is comprised of one Purple Heart honoree representing their fellow Purple Heart heroes from each state. These powerful visits provide a unique opportunity for our Purple Heart veterans to connect with other recipients and experience the appreciation of a grateful nation committed to ensuring their courage and sacrifice is remembered for generations to come.
Expansion of the Roll of Honor
The Honor Mission has also dedicated significant time to locating and registering hundreds of Purple Heart heroes into the National Roll of Honor database, maintained by the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor.
Nearly two million Americans have been awarded the Purple Heart. Unfortunately, there is no publicly available master database of all those who have been wounded or killed in action while protecting our nation and the freedoms we cherish. To help ensure all our Purple Heart heroes are memorialized for generations to come, Purple Heart recipients and/or their loved ones can complete the registration form HERE to be enrolled.