Military Order of the Purple Heart donates to Army museum

The Military Order of the Purple Heart recently provided a $150,000 check to the Capital Campaign for the National Museum of the United States Army. This donation is the group's second in two years, bringing its cumulative contribution to $225,000 to help fund the design and construction of the National Army Museum at Fort Belvoir, Va.
MOPH is the nation's only veterans service organization comprised exclusively of wounded combat veterans. Its mission is to help all veterans and their families, particularly citizen-Soldiers wounded in action. The organization's leadership believes that education and understanding - two goals of the Museum - are crucial in supporting our troops.
With its initial contribution of $75,000 last year, MOPH became the first national veterans' service organization to become a major donor to the National Army Museum.
"We are proud the Military Order of the Purple Heart is the first VSO to sign on as a major contributor in support of the National Army Museum project, and we would of course like to see others do the same,"said retired Maj. Gen. John P. Herrling, campaign executive director. "We hope like-minded organizations will view the Military Order of the Purple Heart donation as a challenge to be met to ensure the museum is a powerful testament to the efforts of Soldiers past and present."
Army Historical Foundation Executive Director, retired Brig. Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr., noted the symbolic relationship between the Purple Heart award and the purpose of the National Army Museum in acknowledging the generosity of MOPH for its most recent gift.
"Created by George Washington in 1782, the Purple Heart, known originally as the Badge of Military Merit, is nearly as old as the U.S. Army itself,"Abrams said.
"What's more, the medal enjoys the unique historical significance of being the first American award made available to the common Soldier, and that's what the National Army Museum is going to be all about - the history of selfless service and personal sacrifice of the common Soldier."
More information about the National Museum of the United States Army is available from armyhistory.org.