Press Release: Local Purple Heart Recipient Tyson Walsh to be Honored During National Tribute Event
Albuquerque Army Veteran Chosen as New Mexico’s Representative for the
2026 Purple Heart Patriot Project
(NEWBURGH, NY) – A local Purple Heart recipient has been chosen to be one of the nation’s 2026 Purple Heart Patriot Project honorees. U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Tyson Walsh will represent his fellow Purple Heart heroes as New Mexico’s representative at the multi-day tribute to the courage and sacrifice of America’s combat wounded. The Purple Heart Patriot Project is a program of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission.
Selected from among hundreds of nominees and deserving candidates for their courage and service, both in combat and in their communities, this annual all-expenses paid ‘Honor Flight’-style salute will bring together Purple Heart recipients from across conflicts and generations. The multi-day Patriot Project Mission, scheduled for April 27 – May 1, 2026, will feature visits to historic sites, including the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; a private tour of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor; time at historic Washington’s Headquarters, where the Badge of Military Merit originated in 1782; and the 9/11 Memorial. Other special tribute events are also being planned.
“Tyson and his fellow Patriot Project honorees represent the best of the best our country has to offer,” said Jeremy McVey, Chairman of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission. “These honorees represent a true cross-section of America and the diversity of our combat wounded through the decades. They answered the nation’s call and then kept on serving. This is our opportunity to say ‘thank you’ on behalf of a grateful nation, especially for our Vietnam veterans, the Patriot Project provides proper homecoming they never received.”
“These Patriot Project missions recognize the sacrifices made by our Purple Heart recipients and honor those who never made it home. They provide an invaluable opportunity for these heroes to bond with other combat wounded to help with healing, understanding and of course, know that this nation will never forget their sacrifice,” said National Purple Heart Honor Mission Executive Director Colonel Russell O. Vernon (Ret). “We received hundreds of nominations from across the country, and we look forward to honoring Tyson for his courage and service, both during combat operations and in the years since returning home.”
This year’s Patriot Project honorees include men and women from all branches of military service, who sacrificed for America and then went on to be leaders in their communities and professions.
Asked what his service meant to him, LTC Walsh said, "Serving has become woven into the fabric of my life. It started as a job, a continuation of military schooling, but over time it turned into part of my identity. For me, service means standing for something larger than myself and trying to be someone my Country, my family, and my soldiers can respect. I believe leadership isn’t tied to rank; it’s the day-to-day work of looking out for people while maintaining doing what's right. Being present for the Joes, helping them develop, and making sure they know their worth matters more than anything else, these are essential traits of a leader in my book. Service has shaped how I think about responsibility, how teams hold together, and what it means to have a clear purpose."
Walsh entered the Army in June 2008 and has served with the 4th Infantry Division and the 10th Mountain Division during Operation Enduring Freedom, including tours at Fort Carson and Fort Polk. He earned his first Purple Heart in 2010 following a dismounted IED attack, and his second Purple Heart in 2013 after being wounded in hand‑to‑hand combat.
Along with his two Purple Hearts, LTC Walsh received the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, additional subordinate decorations, and the Merchant Mariner Expeditionary Award from the Secretary of Transportation.
Married with two children, LTC Walsh continues to serve on active duty. He is currently completing a Ph.D. in Data Science at William & Mary and will teach mathematics at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point beginning in 2027. Walsh is deeply engaged in his community. He is active in his church at Grace Pointe in Virginia, a mathematician, a professional musician, a dedicated oil painter, and a committed volunteer supporting veterans through organizations such as the VA and the Objective Zero Foundation.
The Purple Heart Patriot Project provides an all-expenses paid trip to Purple Heart recipients from across the country to visit the museum dedicated as a tribute to their service and other historic sites connected with the Purple Heart. Located just north of West Point, New York, the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is housed near the site where General George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit in 1782 during the Revolutionary War. The Badge, a purple cloth cut in the shape of a heart, was the forerunner of today’s Purple Heart medal. 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. Project Missions are supported by individual, foundation, and corporate donations.
In addition to creation of the museum, the National Purple Heart Honor Mission was instrumental in the creation of the Purple Heart Forever stamp, and the organization behind the U.S. Mint’s official Purple Heart Commemorative Coin series, which was issued by the United States Mint in 2022. Today, the organization is developing the National Purple Heart Traveling Tribute and Education Center, which will tour the country bringing the stories of our heroes’ service and sacrifice to communities across the nation.
Those wishing to learn more about the National Purple Heart Honor Mission or donate to sponsor the trip for our Purple Heart heroes should visit www.PurpleHeartMission.org.
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ABOUT THE NATIONAL PURPLE HEART HONOR MISSION
The National Purple Heart Honor Mission is an approved 501(c)3 non-profit organization, whose strategic objective is to pay tribute to our nation’s combat wounded and killed in action through special outreach and educational programming. 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. Learn more and support their efforts at www.PurpleHeartMission.org.