Press Release: Las Vegas Purple Heart Recipient Honored During National Tribute Event
Local Army National Guard Veteran Represented Nevada’s Purple Heart Recipients
During the 2023 Purple Heart Patriot Project
(NEWBURGH, NY) – A local Purple Heart recipient was recently honored as one of the nation’s 2023 Purple Heart Patriot Project honorees. U.S. Army National Guard Sergeant Blanca Taylor represented her fellow Purple Heart heroes as Nevada’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. The all-expenses-paid trip included visits to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, historic Washington’s Headquarters, a special tour of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor and other unique tributes.
“Blanca and her fellow Patriot Project honorees represent the best of the best our country has to offer,” said Richie Lay, a Purple Heart recipient and Chairman of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission. “America’s Purple Heart veterans have given so much to defend freedom and that sacrifice must always be remembered. These brave men and women are true American heroes. We were privileged to be able to provide this unique salute to service for our Purple Heart heroes.”
“Our Purple Heart recipients have made enormous sacrifices for America, and this was our opportunity to say ‘thank you’ on behalf of a grateful nation. For some, it was the homecoming they never had. We received hundreds of nominations from across the country and we were pleased to honor Blanca for her courage and service, both during combat operations and in the years since returning home,” said Col. Russ Vernon (NYARNG Ret.), the Executive Director for the National Purple Heart Honor Mission.
This year’s Patriot Project honorees included men and women Purple Heart recipients from World War II, the Vietnam War, Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and other conflicts, representing all branches of the service and ranging from 37 to 100-years-old. The event took place between September 18 – 22 in New York.
Asked what she would want others to know about her service, SGT Taylor said, “Serving is not for everyone, but it will make you a better person if you become a part of the pack. It was an experience that no one can take away from me.”
Taylor enlisted in the Army National Guard in August 2002 and served for more than a decade as a member of the 1864th Motor Transport Company, including a deployment as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the morning of New Year’s Day 2005, Taylor was traveling back to Kuwait when her convoy was stopped because another unit was disarming an IED on the other side of the road. After being given the all-clear, the convoy started moving again. About five minutes further down the road, another IED detonated under the front right tire of the truck SGT Taylor was driving. Despite the cabin filling with black smoke, she was able to keep her foot on the pedal and keep the vehicle moving forward. After the explosion, the convoy immediately began taking fire and Taylor was able to drive the truck further down the road until it ran out of fuel. SGT Taylor and her co-driver were eventually able to evacuate the truck and assistance from aerial support.
Along with the Purple Heart, SGT Taylor was awarded numerous medals and commendations during her service, including the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, and more.
Married, Blanca continues to be an advocate for her fellow veterans, especially other female veterans as a leader in the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) and other veterans’ groups.
Video from the capstone “Welcome Home” rally can be found here: https://fb.watch/nqz4A4evzK/.
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located just north of West Point, New York, 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. In addition to creation of the museum, the National Purple Heart Honor Mission was instrumental in the creation of the Purple Heart Forever stamp now issued by the US Postal Service, and the organization was the driving force behind the nation’s first official Purple Heart Commemorative Coin series, which was issued by the United States Mint in 2022.
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 which supports a variety of programs to promote the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, pay tribute to our Purple Heart recipients, and educate all Americans about our combat-wounded veterans to ensure those who sacrificed for freedom are never forgotten. Learn more and support their efforts at www.PurpleHeartMission.org.