PRESS RELEASE: Local Purple Heart Recipient Kenneth Howe to be Honored with Trip to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, West Point
Pascoag Army Veteran Chosen to Represent Rhode Island’s Purple Heart Veterans as Part of the 2021 Purple Heart Patriot Project
(NEWBURGH, NY) – A local Purple Heart recipient has been chosen to be one of the nation’s 2021 Purple Heart Patriot Project honorees. U.S. Army Specialist Kenneth Howe will represent his fellow Purple Heart heroes as Rhode Island’s representative at a 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 includes visits to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, historic Washington’s Headquarters, a special tour of the newly renovated National Purple Heart Hall of Honor and other tributes to service.
“Kenneth and his fellow Patriot Project honorees are true American heroes,” 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. We are 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 is our opportunity to say ‘thank you’ on behalf of a grateful nation. For some, this will be like the homecoming they never had. We received hundreds of nominations from across the country and we look forward to honoring Kenneth for his lifelong sacrifice and service to his community,” said Col. Russ Vernon (Ret.), executive director for the National Purple Heart Honor Mission.
Asked what he would tell young Americans about serving their country, Specialist 4 Howe said, “As an American it was a duty and an honor to serve. If you do your best you can hold your head high and know that you are part of a small group we call our brother and sister veterans.”
Kenneth Howe was drafted in the U.S. Army in March 1968 and became a member of the 4th Infantry Division. One year later, on March 4, 1969, SP4 Howe’s company had secured Hill 947 when they came under attack by North Vietnamese Army (NVA) Regulars. During the firefight, Howe and others were wounded by shrapnel from a rocket propelled grenade. Howe spent a total of 11- months in Vietnam before receiving his Honorable discharge in 1970. Along with his Purple Heart, Howe was awarded numerous medals and commendations during his service, including the Combat Infantryman Badge, National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnamese Service Medal with Two Bronze Stars, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and more.
Howe is a Life Member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). He has served as Vice President of VVA Chapter 818 in Lincoln, Rhode Island for the past 10 years. He was nominated to take part in the Patriot Project Mission by Father Philip Salois, a fellow Vietnam veteran.
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located just north of West Point, New York, at the site where General George Washington first awarded the Badge of Military Merit in 1782 during the Revolutionary War. The badge, shaped like a purple heart was the forerunner of today’s 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 bipartisan legislation establishing the nation’s first official Purple Heart Commemorative Coin, which will be minted 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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