|
PURPLE HEART HALL OF HONOR
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is conducting a nationwide effort to register Purple Heart recipients in the museum’s database. So far, 70,000 recipients have been registered since the Hall of Honor opened in New Windsor, New York in November, but organizers hope to enroll as many as 1.5 million, said Sergio Morales, a member of the museum’s board of directors. Hall visitors can access the list of Purple Heart recipients on the museum’s 15 computers that chronicle photos and stories about those who have earned the medal. The Defense Department does not keep an official database of Purple Heart recipients. Hall of Honor organizers hope their efforts will create as complete a list as possible of those who have earned the medal to ensure they are not forgotten, Morales said. To register with the Hall of Honor, recipients must prove they received the medal by submitting the appropriate official documentation, including a DD-214, DD-215, WD AGO-53-55, General Orders or a Letter of Transmittal. Hall officials also requested recipients send a written narrative of how they earned their medal, any newspaper articles written about them receiving the medal, and any photographs of them while in the service. Although it’s not required, recipients can also tape an interview at the Hall of Honor chronicling their service and the events that led to their Purple Heart. An unedited copy of the DVD is given to the recipient, while an edited version is kept at the Hall and stored with that individual’s record. Recipients can contact the Hall of Honor at (845) 561-1765 and 1-877-28HONOR, or its website http://www.thepurpleheart.com/ [Source: Navy Times Michael Hoffman article 27 Aug 07 ++] Submitted by Carlton R. Johnson – CDR, USS ALBANY (CG-10) |