Watch the Honor Mission’s 2020 Purple Heart Day Ceremony, held at historic Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh, NY.
Celebrated on each August 7, National Purple Heart Day offers Americans a special opportunity to say “Thank You” to the nearly two million brave men and women who fought for our nation’s freedom, and bear the physical scars of war.
To salute these brave Americans service and sacrifice, the National Purple Heart Honor Mission hosts a national tribute ceremony each August 7. The event offers Purple Heart recipients the chance to gather together to share personal narratives about the true cost of freedom and what it takes to protect our great nation.
President Donald J. Trump Issues A National Purple Heart Day Proclamation
National Purple Heart Honor Mission Board of Directors Vice Chairman Dan Clarino, a two-time Purple Heart recipient who served in Vietnam, shakes hands with President Donald J. Trump following the issuing of a National Purple Heart Day proclamation. President Trump told Clarino he appreciated his service and sacrifice.
They were welcomed like the heroes they are. In a first for the White House, President Donald J. Trump invited Purple Heart recipients from across the nation to the East Room on National Purple Heart Day on August 7th. The National Purple Heart Honor Mission was proud to play an integral role in the development and organizing of this historic event.
Among the 100 Purple Heart recipients invited to be on-hand for the President’ssalute to service and sacrifice were past Patriot Project Mission honorees, including U.S. Army veterans Colonel Thomas "TC" Smith (Vietnam), Staff Sergeant Vanessa Schieber (Operation Freedom Sentinel and OIF), Sergeant Edward Gerasimowicz (Vietnam), and Staff Sergeant Brian Willette (OEF), U.S. Marine Corps Captain Carlton Cannon (Vietnam), U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class George Stavropoulos (Vietnam), and U.S. Air Force veterans Chief Master Sergeant Jo Keller (Operation Southern Watch) and Lieutenant Colonel Ed O'Neal (OEF). They were joined by fellow Purple Heart recipients, Randy Jurgensen (Korea), andPast Honor Mission Chairman Richie Lay (Vietnam). Honor Mission Vice Chairman, Dan Clarino (Vietnam) had the opportunity to personally greet the President following the ceremony.
As our nation prepares to mark its 250th birthday, we are grateful to the Commander-in-Chief and his staff for their commitment to ensuring those who sacrificed so much for our freedom are remembered and celebrated.
WATCH OUR PURPLE HEART HEROES REFLECT ON WHAT
NATIONAL PURPLE HEART DAY MEANS TO THEM
Watch the 2021 National Purple Heart Day Ceremony, hosted by the National Purple Heart Honor Mission at Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh, NY.
Watch the 2022 National Purple Heart Day Ceremony, held at Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh, New York, on the 240th anniversary of the creation of the Badge of Military Merit.