Military Order of the Purple Heart

This article is about the organization. For the award, see Purple Heart. For other uses of "Purple Heart", see Purple Heart (disambiguation).
Military Order of the Purple Heart

Logo of the Military Order of the Purple Heart
Motto Some Gave All, All Gave Some
Formation 1932
Headquarters Springfield, VA
Membership
Approx. 45,300[1]
National Commander
Bruce G. McKenty
Website purpleheart.org

The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) is a congressionally chartered (Title 36 USC Chapter 1405) United States war veterans organization. Headquartered just outside Washington, D.C., it has a membership of approximately 45,300 veterans. It is unique in that its members are exclusively men and women who have received the Purple Heart award while serving as a member of the U.S. Military.[2]

Membership requirements

To apply for membership in MOPH, applicants must meet the requirements of Title 36 United States Code (USC) §140503. Membership:

36 USC

§140503. Membership

(a) Active Members.-An individual is eligible for active membership in the corporation if the individual-

(1) is of good moral character; and

(2) has received the Purple Heart for wounds received as a member, of any rank, of the Armed Forces of the United States or any foreign country during military or naval combat against an armed enemy of the United States.[3]

Mission

The MOPH's stated mission is "to foster an environment of goodwill and camaraderie among combat wounded veterans, promote patriotism, support necessary legislative initiatives, and most importantly, provide service to all veterans and their families."[4]

National programs

Service Program

The MOPH Service Program exists to assist all U.S. Military veterans (to include members as well as nonmembers) in working with the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and filing claims for benefits.[5]

Youth Activities Program

The MOPH's Youth Activities Program is designed to instill the values of patriotism and good citizenry among America's youth. This includes recognizing outstanding ROTC and JROTC leaders in the U.S. and Department of Defense dependent schools globally.[6]

Veterans Affairs Volunteer Service Program

The Military Order of the Purple Heart's Veterans Affairs Volunteer Service (VAVS) Program operates the largest volunteer system in the U.S. Federal Government. VAVS works with the VA to supplement resources for the care, treatment and welfare of veteran patients.[7]

Scholarship Program

The MOPH Scholarship Program is designed to provide monetary assistance for college to applicants who are either:

In addition, the members must:

Americanism Program

The Americanism Program of the MOPH works with schools and outside organizations to "promote U.S. history and the quest for freedom", and is administered by the MOPH National Americanism Officer.[9]

Purple Heart Trail

Purple Heart Trail marker on Interstate 35.

The Purple Heart Trail system, established by the MOPH in 1992, is purposed to "create a symbolic and honorary system of roads, highways, bridges, and other monuments that give tribute to the men and women who have been awarded the Purple Heart medal." The program places, where legislation is passed, signs designed to remind motorists of the freedom of their country, and of those who have paid to keep it that way. The program designates bridges, sections of highways, and other roads as part of the trail. It forms noncontinuous paths, and is present in 45 states and the territory of Guam.[10]

First Responder Program

The purpose of MOPH's First Responder Program is to honor police officers and fire fighters who are killed or wounded in the line of duty. These people are honored by the creation of a commemorative plaque.[11]

Purple Heart Family

The Ladies' Auxiliary

The Ladies Auxiliary of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (LAMOPH) is a sister organization of the MOPH. Its members include mothers, wives, sisters, widows, daughters, stepdaughters, granddaughters and legally adopted female lineal descendants of Purple Heart recipients, who may or may not be MOPH members themselves. It functions as a separate organization from the MOPH, but shares the same goals and mission.

Service Foundation

The Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation is the fundraising engine of the MOPH. Its stated purpose and objectives are:

Controversy

In 2007, the MOPH Service Foundation was rated "F" by the American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP) because only 32% of money raised for the organization went to charity programs.[13][14]

Later that year, executive director Richard Esau was fired from the Service Foundation after an audit showed money spent on possible conflict of interest projects. Money was donated to the Intrepid Museum in New York City shortly before the museum hired the daughter of a member of the Foundation's board of directors. The Foundation gave $100,000 to the Marine Corps Reserve Officers Association, where had once Esau worked and his wife still worked.[15]

In 2010, Ret. Col. Henry Cook III sued the MOPH, saying he was wrongfully dismissed from his post as National Commander. In an affidavit submitted, Cook says his removal was "for my exposing of the mismanagement of funds and grants of "Purple Heart Dollars" on national television." The MOPH responded, "We absolutely disagree with Mr. Cook's allegations in the lawsuit, and we also disagree with Mr. Cook's effort to 'try' his case in the media. We will not otherwise comment on pending litigation, but rather will let this matter run its course through the court system."[16]

The case was dismissed June 2011. [17]

References

  1. "Military Order of the Purple Heart Factsheet" (PDF). August 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  2. "Chartered by Act of Congress For Combat Wounded Veterans". Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  3. 36 U.S.C. United States Code, 1998 Edition Title 36 - PATRIOTIC AND NATIONAL OBSERVANCES, CEREMONIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS Subtitle II - Patriotic and National Organizations Part B - Organizations CHAPTER 1405 - MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED Sec. 140503 - Membership. From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-1998-title36/html/USCODE-1998-title36-subtitleII-partB-chap1405-sec140503.htm
  4. "Our Mission". Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  5. "The MOPH Service Program". Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  6. "MOPH's Youth Activities Program". Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  7. "MOPH's Veterans Affairs Volunteer Service (VAVS) Program". Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  8. "MOPH 2013–2014 Academic Year Scholarship Application Package" (PDF). Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  9. "MOPH's Americanism Program". Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  10. "MOPH's Purple Heart Trail Program". Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  11. "MOPH's First Responder Program". Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  12. "About Us". Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  13. "Veterans Charities Protest Their F's". American Institute of Philanthropy. May 2008. Archived from the original on 24 April 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  14. Schecter, Anna (9 November 2007). "Charities Respond to ABC News Report". ABC News. Archived from the original on 24 April 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  15. Schecter, Anna (21 August 2008). "Wounded Vet Charity Accuses Own Executive of Fraud". ABC News. Archived from the original on 24 April 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  16. Chuchmach, Megan (9 October 2010). "Purple Heart Vet Sues for Retaliation After Blowing Whistle on Alleged Corruption, Money Mismanagement". ABC News. Archived from the original on 24 April 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  17. https://courts.ms.gov/Images/Opinions/CO85025
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/17/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.