Military Order of the Purple Heart National Convention Opens in Rogers, Arkansas

Springfield, VA, August 11, 2009 - The 77^th Annual Convention of The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) and the Ladies Auxiliary of the MOPH opened today in Rogers, Arkansas.  Among the many dignitaries attending the opening ceremonies were Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor, US House Representative John Boozman, the Arkansas Military Liaison, Mr. Rod Sweetman, and Kevin Secor (USMC, Ret), Office of the Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs.

On Wednesday, August 12, at 1:30 pm, the State of Arkansas will dedicate one of its major interstate highways as the Arkansas Purple Heart Trail.  The ceremony will take place at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Rogers, Arkansas. 

This annual event brings together the Commanders and delegates of the Order’s Regions, Departments, Chapters and Units from throughout the nation to elect the National Leadership of the Order for the upcoming year.  Delegates will participate in training sessions, review the business of the past year, approve new governing amendments and organizational bylaw changes, and set an agenda for coming year.

The primary purpose of the MOPH is to assist veterans.  There are many programs conducted by the MOPH and the MOPH Service Foundation to assist all veterans, with emphasis on returning veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, disabled veterans, and veterans afflicted with the signature illnesses of the current wars, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Tramatic Brain Injuries (TBI).

Funded by grants provided by the MOPH Service Foundation, the MOPH conducts programs that help veterans to receive the benefits they have earned from the Department of Veteran Affairs and to help them transition into productive members of our society.  The MOPH conducts veteran job fairs across the country to assist veterans in finding employment and provides training on how to establish and fund their own small business enterprises.  Under the Veteran Affairs Volunteer Service (VAVS) program, some 700 MOPH volunteers throughout the Country, last year donated over 900,000 hours at more than 100 VA Facilities to assist Veterans. 

The largest of these efforts, the MOPH Service Program, provides veterans' benefits experts at various Veterans Administration regional offices, hospitals, vet centers, and state and county veterans’ facilities.  Funded by MOPH Service Foundation grants,  this program operates a nation-wide network of more than 85 offices, staffed by over 170 trained Service Officers and assistants; accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs.  MOPH National Service Officers (NSO’s) process Veterans' claims for compensation, pension, medical care, education, job training, employment, Veterans’ preference, housing, death, and burial benefits.  Many of the MOPH National Service Officers are themselves combat wounded and disabled veterans.  In 2008, MOPH Service Officers assisted over 66,000 Veterans with VA claims and recovered over $200 million in benefits for Veterans and their dependents.  Finally, In 2008, there were more than 2,700 outreach visits by NSOs to assist veterans in hard to reach rural areas as well as handicapped and destitute veterans unable to go to a VA regional office.

The MOPH Service Foundation publishes and distributes throughout the country the signature guide to PTSD, including how to recognize the symptoms, where to get help, and a guide to assist both families and the veteran in learning how to cope with the illness. The Foundation also conducts a program known as the “Veterans Benefit Training Center,” in conjunction with the University of Michigan and other educational partners, to provide training for disabled veterans in the field of telecommunications.  Upon graduation, assistance is provided in job placement in the private sector.  Finally, the Foundation is preparing to participate in the U.S. Congressional PTSD initiative to provide a national PTSD hotline that will assist veterans and their families in crisis.

The organization now known as the "Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) of the U.S.A. Inc.," was formed in 1932 for the protection and mutual interest of all who have received the decoration. Chartered by the Congress, The MOPH is unique among Veteran Service Organizations in that all its members were wounded in combat. For this sacrifice, they received the Purple Heart Medal.

The MOPH is an equal opportunity employer that actively seeks to hire recipients of the Purple Heart Award, combat veterans, and other veterans.  It is MOPH policy to employ and promote veterans and disabled veterans to all occupations for which they possess the necessary skills, education, and experience.  MOPH strives to maintain an environment full of respect, dignity, courtesy and patriotism for its members and employees. 

For further information contact:

National Adjutant, Jack Leonard, 703-642-5360

Or,

National Public Relations Director, John Bircher, 352-753-5535

  Email: PublicRelations@Purpleheart.org

  Web: www.purpleheart.org