The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is conducting a nationwide effort to register Purple Heart recipients in the museum’s database. So far, 70,000 recipients have been registered since the Hall of Honor opened in New Windsor, NY in November, but organizers hope to enroll as many as 1.5 million. The Defense Department does not keep an official database of Purple Heart recipients. Hall of Honor organizers hope their efforts will create as complete a list as possible of those who have earned the medal to ensure they are not forgotten. To register with the Hall of Honor, recipients must prove they received the medal by submitting the appropriate official documentation, including a DD-214, DD-215, WD AGO-53-55, General Orders or a Letter of Transmittal. Hall officials also requested recipients send a written narrative of how they earned their medal, any newspaper articles written about them receiving the medal, and any photographs of them while in the service. Recipients can contact the Hall of Honor at (845) 561-1765 and 1-877-28HONOR, or on its website www.thepurpleheart.com. This information is provided as a service to Shelby County Veterans from VFW Post 8904, Center (598-2976)

“HIRE HEROES USA”

Hire Heroes USA is a new program designed to assist veterans with disabilities in finding careers nationwide in all industries with an emphasis in healthcare. As part of Health Careers Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public non-profit healthcare organization, Hire Heroes USA helps veterans returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom with any level of disability as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more about the Hire Heroes USA organization, please visit www.hireheroesusa.org This information is provided as a service to Shelby County Veterans from VFW Post 8904, Center (598-2976).