Today is Purple Heart Day — a day for the nation to remember the immense sacrifices of service members who received a Purple Heart Medal after being wounded or killed in the line of duty.

Recent developments in the Middle East, including the attack on Al Asad Airbase, Iraq, highlight the ongoing challenges our service members face. The increasing violence and instability in the region demand our attention and support now more than ever.

The USO is committed to supporting those who serve and their families throughout every step of their military journey — including when service members are injured or killed in action.

When wounded Purple Heart recipients need a place to turn for support, our USO Warrior and Family Centers in Maryland, Virginia, Texas and Germany are there for them and their families. From therapeutic programs and activities to the structure of the building itself, these centers are uniquely designed to cater to wounded service members and their caretakers during some of the most stressful and turbulent times in their lives.

For wounds that may take longer to heal, our 250 USO Centers around the world are there for service members with initiatives like the USO Canine Program, which provides certified therapy dogs for the comfort of tens of thousands of people in the military community every year. One wounded veteran told one of our volunteer handlers that, despite burns covering over 80% of his body, he felt no pain when petting a therapy dog.

And when Gold Star families — also known as Families of the Fallen — make the ultimate sacrifice, the USO is there for them as they mourn their tragic loss. We’ve been there for every single transfer of a fallen hero’s remains at Dover Air Force Base since 1991 to provide comfort items and a network of support to Gold Star families.

So many who serve our country make the immense sacrifices required to earn a Purple Heart. That’s why this distinction was one of the first bestowed across all ranks of our Armed Forces — and more than 1.8 million medals have been presented since the award was first created in 1782.

As we continue to work every day to support our service members, our crucial work to honor our wounded and fallen heroes and their families will always be core to our mission.

This Purple Heart Day and every day, your support is crucial. With rising tensions and growing challenges faced by our American heroes globally, the USO's role in providing comfort and morale-boosting programs is indispensable.

—The USO



United Service Organizations, Inc. (USO) is a nonprofit 501(ϲ)(3) organization (EIN/Tax ID: 13-1610451) and not part of the Department of Defense (DOD). The appearance of DOD visual information does not imply or constitute DOD endorsement.

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