SPRINGFIELD, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Military Order of the Purple Heart is proud to salute U.S. Representative Paul Cook, (R-CA-8), for his introduction of HR 6234, the “Private Corrado Piccoli Purple Heart Preservation Act,” and encourages other members of the House of Representatives to support and join as co-sponsors of this Bill. Representative Cook, himself a two-time Purple Heart recipient, serves on the Natural Resources, Armed Services, and Foreign Affairs Committees. He formerly served as an Infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and retired after 26 years as a Colonel.
If enacted into law, this Bill would prohibit the sale of any Purple Heart Medal, America’s oldest military decoration, established originally by General George Washington as the Badge of Merit during the Revolutionary War. The Purple Heart Medal is presented only to those who have been wounded or killed in action on the battlefield, or by an act of international terrorism. It may be presented to the next of kin in honor of the service member who is killed in action against an enemy of the United States.
HR 6234 is named for Private Corrado Piccoli, a WWII Infantryman killed in action in 1944. A Purple Heart Medal accompanied the telegram informing Private Piccoli’s family of his death and sadly, years later and after his parents’ passing, the medal was lost. Private Piccoli’s Purple Heart Medal was discovered in an antique store, and was given to Major Zachariah Fike, founder of “Purple Hearts Reunited,” a non-profit service organization dedicated to locating and rescuing these medals from pawn shops, junk stores, estate sales, and the internet. MAJ Fike returned Piccoli’s Purple Heart Medal to his family. Since that first “return” Fike has now returned more than 300 recovered Purple Heart Medals to their rightful owners or their families.
Unfortunately, the profiteering actions of military collectors make this task difficult as medals find their way onto the market and away from their rightful places of honor. Medals engraved with the names of those killed in action command the highest prices. MOPH believes that these medals rightfully belong with those families, as the Purple Heart is often the last tangible item a family receives in memory of their deceased loved one.
Passage of HR 6234 would prevent merchants from profiteering from the sale of military-issued Purple Hearts, eliminating the market and making it easier to return them to their rightful owners; it would not prevent the sale of replacement medals through authorized sellers. Speaking on behalf of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, National Commander Hershel Gober stated, "Purple Hearts that are lost or stolen belong with veterans and their survivors, period; not floating around on the collectors' market. We applaud Congressman Cook and thank him for his leadership on this important issue."
The "Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A. Inc.," (MOPH) was formed in 1932 for the protection and mutual interest of all combat wounded veterans and active duty men and women 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 were awarded the Purple Heart Medal. With grants from the MOPH Service Foundation, the MOPH and its Ladies Auxiliary promote Patriotism, Fraternalism, and the Preservation of America's military history. Most importantly, through veteran service, they provide comfort and assistance to all Veterans and their families, especially those requiring claims assistance with the VA. Programs of the MOPH include VA Volunteer Service, JROTC Leadership Awards, Scholarships, Americanism, Purple Heart Trail and Cities, Suicide Awareness, Welfare, and numerous community service programs, all with the objective of service to Veterans and their families.
