RELEASE: Senator Lankford Honors America's Purple Heart Recipients, Co-Sponsors the Purple Heart Commemorative Coin Act
Bill Pays Tribute to Purple Heart Heroes with Historic First Ever Official Commemorative Coin
(WASHINGTON, DC) – Historic legislation to honor America’s Purple Heart recipients, the National Purple Heart Commemorative Coin Act (S.2815), is quickly gaining momentum in the U.S. Senate with the addition of Oklahoma Senator James Lankford to its growing list of bi-partisan co-sponsors.
Authored as a tribute to America’s combat wounded and those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom, the National Purple Heart Commemorative Coin Act (S.2815) salutes those who bear the scars of service that often come with keeping our nation free. The official, U.S. minted coin would be the first in history to recognize our Purple Heart heroes.
“Our Purple Heart recipients personify the courage and valor during adversity of our entire US Armed Forces,” said Senator James Lankford. “This coin is a small gesture of gratitude that will help support the National Purple Heart Honor Mission and our wounded and fallen heroes.”
“This is an historic opportunity for our nation. We thank Senator Lankford for sharing his support for our courageous Purple Heart heroes. This honor for the nation’s Purple Heart recipients is long overdue and proceeds from this commemorative coin will help ensure these heroes’ stories of valor are told to a whole new generation of Americans,” said Richie Lay, Purple Heart recipient and Chairman of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission.
The National Purple Heart Commemorative Coin Act (S.2815) authorizes the U.S. Treasury to mint $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins at the United States Mint at West Point for the 2022 year. After production costs are recouped by the Treasury, proceeds from sales of the coin will be directed to the National Purple Heart Honor Mission to advance educational programing across the country. A companion bill passed the House of Representatives in late 2019 on unanimous consent, with support from 307 co-sponsors.
“We can’t thank Senator Lankford enough for supporting this effort to honor our Purple Heart heroes. Passing this legislation is a reminder that the true cost of freedom comes through the blood of brave Americans. The Honor Mission does a tremendous job paying tribute to our Purple Heart recipients and this historic legislation will have an impact across America,” said Military Order of the Purple Heart Department of Oklahoma Chief of Staff Gary Lewis, a Purple Heart recipient and Oklahoma’s honoree during the 2019 Purple Heart Patriot Project.
The Honor Mission led the effort to establish and expand The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, the museum dedicated to the Purple Heart located just north of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point near the site where George Washington conceived of the Badge of Military Merit in 1782. The group previously played a significant role in the creation of the Purple Heart Forever stamp passed by the U.S. Congress and issued by the U.S. Postal Service in 2014.
The Honor Mission also administers the Purple Heart Patriot Project, which brings living Purple Heart recipients from across the country on an all-expenses-paid trip to West Point and the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor. Past sponsors have included American Airlines.
The organization recently began accepting nominations for its 2021 Patriot Project mission. The group is also working to develop a new Mobile Tribute and Education Center, that will have physical and digital displays to tell the story of the Purple Heart and recipients in communities across America.
The National Purple Heart Honor Mission is an approved 501(c)3 national charitable organization.
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