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In Abbey's case, that place was the Iraq War, and the thing that happened was an attack by insurgents in 2005 that could've easily killed him. Abbey was wounded in the attack, earning a Purple Heart, which is a medal given to soldiers wounded or killed in combat while serving in the military.

After Robert Olzweski returned from Vietnam, he thought he was done with the military.

Little did he know, it would call him back once again.

OSHKOSH (NBC 26) — Some honors may go unnoticed, but the Purple Heart Honor Mission wants to recognize all the men and women who served and gave a big piece of their lives.

“I’m humbled by the selection because I’m going up there with some real heroes who were wounded defending this country. Some of them are from the Afghanistan war and the Iraq war,” said Smith. “A lot of them are from Vietnam. It means a lot that you can represent these people…”

Mark Bokoff, owner of Bokoff Tours and Travel in Lakewood Ranch, helped get Purple Heart recipients from all 50 states to the The National Purple Heart Honor Mission’s annual program in New York at the end of September.

Col. Washington Sanchez appeared as a guest on “The Morning Show with Preston Scott” on WFLA-FM, an iHeart Radio station. During the interview, Col. Sanchez talked about his service in Vietnam, his experience as a Black Army veteran and the events of the 2021 Purple Heart Patriot Project Mission.

When retired Col. Russ Vernon, executive director of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission, called Marc Bokoff, owner of Bokoff Tours & Travel, Bokoff didn’t hesitate to offer his services. Vernon was looking for a travel professional to help get Purple Heart recipients from all 50 states to the organization’s annual program in New York at the end of September.

The National Purple Heart Honor Mission puts on an event that provides an all-expense paid trip for Purple Heart recipients to come together and honor shared sacrifice.

Russ Vernon, executive director of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission, said it was fitting to hold the event in Newburgh, where Gen. George Washington awarded the first Badge of Military Merit, the predecessor to the Purple Heart.

Purple Heart recipients Mitch Reed, Ed Abbey, Connie Johnson and Troy Green joins The David Webb Show to discuss the Purple Heart Patriot Project Mission.

NEWBURGH- The nation’s Purple Heart recipients were honored at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center Thursday evening as hundreds attended a rally.

A group of veterans from across the country were chosen to represent their states and tour the Purple Heart Hall of Honor in the Hudson Valley on Wednesday.

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Edward Evans (Ret.) of Silverhill is traveling this week to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and made a stop by the congressman’s office. CSM Evans is a Korean War veteran and has been chosen to represent Alabama’s Purple Heart Veterans as part of the 2021 Purple Heart Patriot Project. Evans will be receiving a tour of the newly renovated National Purple Heart Hall of Honor.