Press Release: Local Purple Heart Recipient Joseph Steele to be Honored During National Tribute Event

Flatwoods Army Veteran Chosen as Kentucky’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 Staff Sergeant (SSG) Joseph Steele will represent his fellow Purple Heart heroes as Kentucky’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-expense 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.

“Joseph 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 Joseph 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, SSG Steele said, “I knew at a young age that I was destined to serve and that sense of duty to country came natural to me because I come from a long line of service members. I was going through the enlistment process with the Washington Air National Guard when 9-11 happened. Although my service was cut short due to a medical retirement, I have served federally on active duty, as a guardsman for my states, and locally in my community as a sheriff deputy in Louisiana. My sense of service to others also inspired my work as an Emergency Room Technician. Now I try to serve the veteran community the best I can.”  

Steele enlisted in the Military in October 2001 and served for the next seventeen years. In June 2007, while stationed at Joint Security Station Arvantis-Sigua in Bayji, Iraq, SSG Steele was wounded-in-action when a Vehicle Bourne Improvised Explosive Device consisting of a Dump Truck and 1,200-1,500 pounds of explosives initiated a complex attack by detonating into the north wall of the Joint Security Station. The blast, which occurred in the early morning hours, breached the perimeter of the complex and caused SSG Steele to be thrown out of his bunk. A platoon sized element of enemy combatants began attempted to take control of the compound using small arms fire, machine gun fire, rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), and mortars.

Along with his Purple Heart, SSG Steele was awarded numerous medals and commendations during his service, including the Combat Action Badge, the Combat Medica Badge, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Iraq Campaign Medal and more.

Married and the proud father of six, Joseph enjoys woodworking and mentoring young people through the JROTC program. He also continues to serve his fellow veterans through the expansion of the Purple Heart Trail, for which he was awarded the Louisiana National Guard Cross of Merit.

The Purple Heart Patriot Project provides an all-expense 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 support the Purple Heart Patriot Project 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.