Today, in honor of National Purple Heart Recognition Day, four Purple Heart recipients were recognized in a ceremony held at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Among the honorees was VetCV Foundation board member Pete McKanna, alongside Jason Crawford, Dustin Tuller, and Doug Doughty. The ceremony was organized by U.S. Senator Ashley Moody with help from National Senior Vice Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Dr. Andrew Del Gaudio, Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons, and state Representative Michelle Salzman.
The Purple Heart
National Purple Heart Day is observed every year on August 7th to honor U.S. Service Members who were wounded or killed in combat. The Purple Heart Medal (originally designated the Badge of Military Merit) was established under the order of George Washington in 1782 and is the United States’ oldest military decoration. It is considered by many to be among the nation’s highest honors, despite many recipients often calling it “the medal that nobody wants.”
The Honorees
SGT Jason Crawford and SSG Dustin Tuller were serving in the Florida Army National Guard when they were both wounded during combat operations in Iraq in 2003. Crawford suffered a gunshot wound to his jaw, while Tuller was shot multiple times in the legs and back. Tuller’s injuries resulted in the amputation of both legs and a weeks-long coma.
“There are a lot of men and women who served our country that didn’t get that type of recognition,” Crawford told WEAR 3 News of the ceremony.
Also in attendance this morning was three-time Purple Heart recipient and Vietnam veteran Chris Lambert. He and honoree Doug Doughty (CDR, US Navy ret.) served together in 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines in Vietnam. Doughty was a Corpsman at that time.
“It’s events like these where you see how strong our camaraderie is,” Lambert said. “We never forget each other no matter where we live, or if it’s been 40 years. Get us in a room together and it’s like we’re 18-year-olds again.”
Sen. Moody later released a statement to WEAR 3 News about the event:
“On Purple Heart Recognition Day, we honor our nation’s wounded warriors and those who have died in service of our country. No one ever serves hoping to receive this medal; it is not an honor anyone sets out to earn—it is given because an American stood his or her ground against an enemy. It’s a privilege to introduce a resolution in Congress honoring these patriots’ sacrifice, as well as spotlight four brave Floridians by including their stories in the Congressional Record.”
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