Have you ever been offered a small, paper viola for a nominal fee? This purple flower is the calling card for the Purple Heart Charity. The little flowers are made by veterans who are disabled or otherwise in need of assistance.
The Purple Heart Charity is also known as the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The Charity is made up of veterans of the armed forces who received the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in combat. The Purple Heart Charity was chartered by Congress in 1958. Membership in the Charity is limited to those who have received the Purple Heart, but all veterans and families are supported by the program nationwide.
The organization was originally formed in 1932, for the purpose of helping those who received the Purple Heart decoration. It is the only service organization that is made up entirely of combat vets. The sister organization, Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, performs charitable acts on a national scale and in local veteran’s hospitals. It is comprised of the wives, daughters and mothers of veterans who have received the Purple Heart medal.
The Purple Heart Charity currently has about 43,000 members and 499 chapters. The organization is split into six geographical regions with 49 state departments. Their annual operating budget is about $10.5 million and almost $7.3 million of this directly supports the Service Program. Located in Springfield, Virginia, the Military Order of the Purple Heart supports several national programs:
– National Service Program: Assists over 52,000 veterans from Guam to Puerto Rico.
– Veteran Affairs Voluntary Services: Provides grants to veterans in need that are living in VA hospitals or homes.
– Americanism: Supports school visits, job fairs and scholarships for veterans and families.
– Legislative: Provides a voice on Capitol Hill to stay active in legislation that affects military men and women and their families.
