West Point/Pointer View: West Point Welcomed Purple Heart Recipients To Enjoy Day At Academy Through Patriot Project
By Eric S. Bartelt PV Managing Editor - September 29, 2023
While the term “entitled” can sometimes carry a negative undertone; for servicemembers who are wounded or killed in a combat zone, their bravery and sacrifice earn them the entitlement and distinct honor of the Purple Heart decoration. Going above and beyond, the Purple Heart Patriot Project, an initiative led and funded by the National Purple Heart Honor Mission, provided 38 Purple Heart recipients and their guests a weeklong all-expenses paid trip to New York in a gesture that stands as a heartfelt tribute to those who endured trails on the battlefield.
The trip included visits to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor and Museum in New Windsor, Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh, a trip to New York City to see the Statue of Liberty and the 9/11 Museum at Ground Zero, the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) and other unique tributes during the week in New York.
The 38 Purple Heart recipients, representing each state minus those who were chosen but couldn’t make the trip, ranged from those who fought in World War II to Operation Iraqi Freedom.