Events > Purple Heart Day - August 7, 2004

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Purple Heart Day
August 7, 2004

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2004
www.purpleheart353.com

"Purple Heart Day" at Mount Vernon, VA on August 7, 2004

The Greater Washington Chapter 353 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A. (MOPH) and the Greater Washington Unit 353 of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (LAMOPH) are sponsoring a commemoration of the establishment of the Badge of Military Merit (the forerunner of the Purple Heart medal) by General George Washington at Newburgh, NY on August 7, 1782. The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association that maintains the home, tomb, and estate of General and the first President of the United States George Washington is also a traditional sponsor of the event. The commemorative ceremony will take place at 12:00 Noon at the Purple Heart Trail memorial, the starting point of the nationwide Purple Heart Trail.

The keynote speaker is First Lieutenant Dewayne White, a veteran of the Operations Joint Endeavor and Joint Guard in Bosnia and the Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. He was wounded when his Bradley Fighting Vehicle was attacked in Baghdad on April 8, 2003, and awarded the Purple Heart medal. Despite his wounds, 1LT White returned to his platoon the next day and continued serving as its leader until it left Iraq. His other awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary and Service Medals, Army Expeditionary and Service Medals, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. 1LT White currently serves as the Memorial Affairs Officer in Charge with the Third U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) at Fort Myer, VA. He is the Sergeant-At-Arms of the MOPH Greater Washington Chapter 353 and a member of the John Lyon VFW Post # 3150.

The Military Order of the Purple Heart is the only veterans' organization charted by Congress exclusively for combat-wounded veterans. It is headquartered in Springfield, VA and has 482 chapters throughout the United States. The MOPH represents veterans’ interests before Congress, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and other Government Agencies. Its National Service Program provides free of charge assistance to all veterans, their dependents, and survivors. Together with the MOPH, its Ladies' Auxiliary promotes Americanism, sponsors patriotic activities, and contributes to the social welfare of the members and the community. Additional information about both organizations is available at www.purpleheart.org.

For additional information about the event, please visit www.purpleheart353.com or contact:

Program of Events

View and Print Program

Download Program in:

− Microsoft Word (.doc), 86 KB
− Adobe Acrobat (.pdf), 78 KB

Keynote Speech

First Lieutenant Dewayne White, veteran of the Operations Joint Endeavor and Joint Guard in Bosnia and the Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.

Photo Report

Purple Heart Day 2004

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