The Real Story of Veteran’s Day
…The 11th hour…
…On the 11th day…
…Of the 11th month…
Hostility ceased in this moment back in 1918 marking the end of World War I.
Armistice Day was then celebrated on the 11th day of November to commemorate the beginning of this peaceful era. Nationwide there were celebrations, parades, public meetings and suspension of business for two minutes at 11am. Over the years, Congress has changed the date on which Armistice Day was celebrated, but in 1975 President Ford returned Armistice Day to November 11th, due to the significance and importance of that date.
Over 116,000 Americans defended the lives and freedom of our European allies during World War I. However, it was only after World War II and the Korean War that the commemoration of this day become known as “Veterans Day”, honoring the more than 1 million Americans who have died in all US wars.
Unlike Memorial Day which honors those members who made the ultimate sacrifice for this country; Veterans Day honors all veterans – those deceased and those living, regardless of whether they served in wartime or peace. Currently there are 1.3 million active duty service men and women, with an additional 800,000 serving in the reserves. There are approximately 21 million American veterans alive today. Many of them are like you and I…they are grandparents, parents, friends, neighbors, brothers, and coworkers. For some, there are physical signs of their sacrifice, but for others their wounds are on the inside. It is not easy coming home after everything a servicemember sees and endures. Due to the effects of Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Military Sexual Trauma and more, an average of 22 veterans per day commit suicide.
This Veterans Day, we ask you to honor all of our veterans for their patriotism, service, sacrifice, and love of country. Make a donation to the Purple Heart Foundation!
Your contribution will help all veterans from all wars with all types of injuries. They will receive the benefits they have earned and deserve. Your contribution will fund grants, academic scholarships and so much more.
If you’re enjoying your freedom, thank a veteran by making a contribution today. The Purple Heart Foundation, honoring their sacrifice with our service.
The Final Goodbye
A teary-eyed, George W. Bush, said his final goodbye to his father, George H.W. Bush Sr. and former 41st President of the United States, while giving his eulogy at the National Cathedral last Wednesday, December 5th. The former President passed away at his home in Houston, Texas on November 30, 2018. On this day, he took his final flight to reunite with his wife (Barbara Bush) and his 3-year-old daughter (Robin Bush).
President Bush’s casket was visited at the US Capitol Rotunda for 3 days by family, friends and thousands of citizens who admired and loved him. During the state funeral, former Presidents Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama and current President Donald Trump were present along with their wives to pay their respects and say their final goodbyes to their dear old friend.
Known as a man with a good heart, charisma, and an impressive life story… George H. W. Bush, Sr. was born on June 12, 1924 to a wealthy and politically active family in Milton, Massachusetts. He attended Phillips Academy, an elite boarding school. Then at 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, making him the youngest pilot during WWII. As a combat pilot he flew 58 combat missions and had a close encounter with death when his plane was hit in the Pacific. Shortly after, he met 16-year-old Barbara Pierce, a teenage romance that would eventually result in a beautiful 73-year marriage, the longest presidential marriage in American history. After the war ended, George H.W. Bush, Sr. graduated from Yale University with a major in Economics and moved to Texas to enter the oil business making him a millionaire by the age of 40.
In 1963, George H.W. Bush, Sr. became chairman of the Harris County Republican Party, and was later elected to the House of Representatives. He held various elected roles…
- 1971 – U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
- 1973 – Head of the Republic National Committee (during Watergate Scandal)
- 1974 – U.S. Liaison Office in the People’s Republic of China
- 1976 – Director of the CIA in 1976
- 1977 – Chairman: Executive Committee of the First International Bank (Houston)
- 1979 – Director of Council on Foreign Relations Foreign Policy Organization
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With a very impressive resume, former George H.W. Bush, Sr. decided to run for President… but failed to win against Ronald Reagan. Instead, Ronald Reagan honored him with the Vice Presidency during his two terms in office.
George H.W. Bush, Sr. believed he was finally ready for the Presidency and ran once again in the 1988 election against Democratic Nominee, Michael Dukakis. George H.W. Bush, Sr. was elected 41st President of the United States of America. During that time he successfully handled various foreign affairs. He dissolved the Soviet Union and removed the Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, but his greatest presidential success was handling the invasion in Kuwait. He was a global success for these accomplishments but there were problems with the economy back home.
After his Presidential term, George H.W. Bush, Sr. made appearances in support of his son, George W. Bush, Jr. during his terms as 43rd President of the United States of America. He also appeared at events for several political causes and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. He even joined forces with former presidential rival, Bill Clinton, to help Hurricane Katrina victims.
Barak Obama once said “his life is a testament that public service is a noble calling” while honoring George H.W. Bush, Sr. with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, an award bestowed by the President to recognize people who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States”.
In the coming years, George H.W. Bush, Sr. had several setbacks with his health and spent his time in and out of the hospital. After losing his wife in April, George H.W. Bush, Sr. got Sully, a service dog who became his best friend and companion. Over the 6 months that they spent together they built an unbreakable bond, which left a huge impression on Sully. Sully was at the funeral, next to his owners’ side until the very end.
Former President George H.W. Bush, Sr. headed back to Houston to be buried at home, close to his ranch. Our condolences go out to the entire Bush Family. This country thanks him for his lifelong service to this country.
George H. W. Bush
June 12, 1924 – November 30, 2018
Social Security Benefits & Veterans
How to Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits the Same Time as VA Benefits
If you are a veteran who is disabled, you may qualify for both Veterans Administration (VA) benefits and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) administered through the Social Security Administration (SSA). While both are disability programs administered by government agencies, both programs have very different criteria that must be met for an applicant to be approved for benefits. You can qualify for both VA benefits and SSDI if you meet the specific criteria established for both programs.
You can have pending applications with both agencies at the same time, or you might be approved for one program and awaiting approval for the other. VA benefits are provided for disabilities related to your military service only, and you don’t have to be totally disabled. Your VA benefits are based on the severity of your service-related disability and the compensation rating it receives.
Because there aren’t financial requirements that must be met to receive VA benefits, you can receive VA benefits along with another form of disability benefits at the same time. To receive SSDI, you must have worked enough to earn adequate credits – usually this is the equivalent of 5 years full-time out of the last 10 years. You must be completely disabled for at least a year, or have a condition expected to result in death. All your medical issues are considered together – regardless of whether they are related to your military service or not.
The Disability Approval Process
The VA will review your medical records associated with your military service. If you get approved for VA benefits first, it will not necessarily help your SSDI claim. At one time, getting a high compensability rating from the VA, such as 70 percent or more, would lead to additional consideration. The new regulations published by the SSA in 2017 indicate that the SSA will not take VA benefit approvals into consideration for an SSDI application, but the SSA will review any evidence the VA considered when making their decision. The SSA will use Department of Defense (DOD) or VA evidence to expedite SSDI claims for veterans who are Wounded Warriors or who have a 100% compensability rating through the VA.
The VA doesn’t give special deference to an approval for SSDI, the VA Is required by law to consider the records that the SSA had to review regarding your condition. The medical records reviewed by the SSA could prove beneficial by offering key evidence that might help the VA render a favorable decision for your claim. While you could have a lower compensability rating – such as 5% or 10% through the VA – you could be declared fully disabled by the SSA. The SSA will consider your service-related disability, such as a back problem or lung disease, and they will also consider medical problems not associated with your military service, such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes, and heart problems.
The Application Process
If you have applied for VA benefits, you should also apply for SSD. SSDI benefits are based on the claimant’s work history – so your eligibility also relies on the credits you have earned from working. In most instances, you must have worked 5 years full-time out of the last 10 years. If you wait too long, you will start losing credits and you will become ineligible for SSDI. The application process for Social Security disability benefits is fairly straightforward. You have the option of applying online on the SSA’s website or you can do so in person at a Social Security office. After you send in your application, you should hear back from the SSA regarding your claim within three to five months.
Resources Found Via:
- https://www.va.gov/
- https://www.ssa.gov/disability/
- https://www.ssa.gov/
- https://www.disabilitybenefitscenter.org/glossary/social-security-disability-work-credit
- https://www.disabilitybenefitscenter.org/blog/disability-benefits-warrior-transition-unit-program
- https://www.ssa.gov/applyfordisability/
- https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp
Whiskey With A Cause: The Glenlivet 14 Year Old
The Purple Heart Foundation is solely dedicated to serving our nation’s heroes and The Glenlivet has joined our cause!
The Glenlivet is commemorating Purple Heart Month by partnering with the Purple Heart Foundation to introduce the brand new 14-Year-Old single malt scotch whiskey, in honor of our heroes. You still have time to buy a bottle of this newly crafted sing malt scotch whisky. Every purchase benefits the Purple Heart Foundation! For every bottle of The Glenlivet 14-Year-Old sold at participating retailers from July 1 to December 31, 2019, The Glenlivet will donate $1 to the Purple Heart Foundation, with a minimum guaranteed donation of $50,000, up to $100,000! The Glenlivet’s generosity will help the Purple Heart Foundation enhance the quality of life for thousands of veterans and their families across the country.
We invite you to buy a bottle of The Glenlivet 14-Year-Old and raise your glass in honor of all our heroes. Your purchase or donation will make a difference, and it will help us fund resources and programs that are so desperately needed by our veterans today. Anyone (over 21) can still honor a Purple Heart recipient this Purple Heart Month by purchasing a bottle of The Glenlivet 14-Year-Old from your local participating retailer this August!
To read more about The Glenlivet in the official press release, please click HERE.
To buy a bottle of The Glenlivet 14 Year Old, please click HERE.
To DONATE to the Purple Heart Foundation, please click HERE.
Daniel Prigge: Surviving the Hits
The Purple Heart Foundation connects with Purple Heart recipients to share their unforgettable stories of valor. Here on the Purple Heart Foundation blog, you will read about the personal experiences of some of our heroes. These veterans have proudly served and sacrificed to protect our nation. Daniel Prigge is one of them…he is lucky to be alive, and proud to share his story to inspire others to keep carrying on.
“My name is Daniel Prigge, I served a little over 10 years in the US Army. I was wounded on May 03, 2011. My vehicle was struck by three EFP roadside bombs. My convoy was hit with a total of five EFP’s and one EFP that did not go off. My truck was also hit by an RPG and small arms fire during the ambush.
I was on a small fourteen-man team that was PSD (Protective Service Detail) for the general in charge of the pull out of Iraq. On May 2nd, the general took a helicopter flight to a meeting right outside of Baghdad, Iraq. The next day, my team was on the way to pick him up and bring him back to our FOB (Forward Operating Base). We were on the outskirts of Baghdad on a route that had a fence line on the left side and a canal on the right side. We were using RG33L trucks – a mine-resistant light armored vehicle built longer than the RG-33 to hold twice as many people – due to how many people we would have to escort from place to place. We were traveling down the route when suddenly I see an RPG hit the front of my truck…seconds later I felt an explosion to the left side of my vehicle.
I was the truck commander of the convoy, I was knocked out from the explosion and had sustained injuries of a shifted spine, both knees completely blown out and dislocated, left hemiparesis, broken nose, intestinal problems, brain leakage as well as shrapnel hitting my eye and destroying my optic nerve.
After the explosion, our convoy was still under fire. I looked at the vehicle behind me and saw that the truck was burning on fire with my guys inside. Our coms were not working due to the explosion, I came-to, dismounted the truck and directed four guys including myself to bound in teams of two back to the burning vehicle. The burning vehicle was about three hundred meters behind us. The first and second truck in the convoy were not able to turn around and get us out of the kill zone due to the fence and the canal on the route. My team bounded three hundred meters and helped get the other guys on the team out of the burning vehicle. We were still under contact, but by this time we received help from the Iraqi Special Operations unit. We finally secured the kill zone about fifteen minutes into the fire fight.
I took off my helmet and that is when the back of my head swelled up. I wasn’t aware that the entire time, my helmet was acting as a make-shift compression bandage. So, once I took the helmet off, my head expanded, and I passed out on the ground next to an Iraqi Army truck. Due to the unexploded ordinance still hot in the kill zone it took the MEDEVAC helicopter three hours to land to take the wounded to the nearest FOB. I went through over fifty surgeries including back surgery, six knee surgeries to put cadavers and to put my tibia and fibula back together. My fibula is cut in half due to it completely dislocating.
I retired from the Army in 2015 and now own a Max Muscle Sports Nutrition store in Green Bay, Wisconsin. My awards include Iraqi Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, Army commendation Medal (4th award), Purple Heart (2nd award), Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (3rd Award), National Defense Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge, CLS, Combatives level 3 and Tiger Swan qualified.“
Daniel Prigge, US Army, Retired, Purple Heart Recipient
To help the Purple Heart Foundation continually provide programs, services, scholarships and other opportunities to veterans like Daniel Prigge, make a donation today.
Help last “Navajo Code Talkers” This Memorial Day!
After the recent passing of 97 year old Navajo Code Talker, Fleming Begaye Sr., the Navajo Nation will be doing something special to honor the service and sacrifice of their veteran community.
This Memorial Day the Navajo Nation in Rock Point, Arizona will be hosting a Memorial Day Celebration to honor more than 74 veterans, multiple Purple Heart recipients, 2 Gold Star Moms and the last 2 remaining Navajo Code Talkers from World War II, Peter MacDonald and Thomas Begay!
This Navajo community is a small and humble group of Native Americans that live on reservation, so they have partnered with the Purple Heart Desert Thrift Shop in Mesa, Arizona to collect donations until May 24th. 100% of ALL cash donations in store or donations online will benefit the Navajo veterans and their Memorial Day Celebration!
The Navajo Code Talkers have a unique history and are an infamous group of veterans that were recruited by the United States Marine Corps to use their native Navajo language to help maintain communication secrecy during the World War II. After the Navajo Code was developed, the Marine Corps established a Code Talking School where over 400 Navajos (Dine) were recruited as Code Talkers throughout World War II. The Japanese were never able to break these codes, that is why the Navajo Code Talkers are legendary – after WWII they were credited with helping the United States secure the Allied victory in the Pacific.
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer offered their heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Navajo Code Talker Fleming Begaye, Sr., who passed away on Friday at the age of 97 in Chinle, Arizona.
“The Navajo Nation has lost another brave and selfless Diné warrior, who sacrificed more than we’ll ever know to defend our country,” said President Nez. “We offer our heartfelt appreciation to the family for sharing his life with us. May the Creator bless you and your family with strength and comfort.”
Navajo Code Talker Begaye is Tódích’íi’nii (Bitter Water Clan) and born for Kinłichii’nii (Red House People Clan). He was born on Aug. 26, 1921 in the community of Red Valley, Arizona and resided in Chinle, Arizona at the time of his passing. Begaye served as a Navajo Code Talker in the Marine Corps from 1943 to 1945 and fought in the Battle of Tarawa and the Battle of Tinian. He later spent one year in a naval hospital as a result of injuries and wounds he received during his service.
Following his military service, Begaye returned to the Navajo Nation where he owned and operated “Begaye’s Corner” trading post in the community of Chinle, where he also lived with his wife and three children.
“Code Talker Begaye was a warrior, a family man, and a businessman. In every aspect of his life, he was a loving person who cared greatly for his people. Today, I ask our Diné people to keep his spirit and his family in your prayers as we give thanks for his life and his legacy,” said Vice President Lizer.
Funeral services and arrangements for Navajo Code Talker Fleming Begaye, Sr. are pending.
You can help the Navajo Nation honor Mr. Begaye’s heroic comrades, the last remaining Navajo Code Talkers, Peter MacDonald and Thomas Begay, as well as recognize dozens of other distinguished Navajo veterans and their families living on the Navajo reservation in Arizona….
Make a donation to the Navajo Nation Memorial Day Celebration at Purple Heart Desert Thrift!
100% of your donation will benefit the Navajo veterans and your donation is 100% tax-deductible! Help us honor their service and sacrifice!
Honoring Purple Heart Month
As we begin the month of August, it is our great pleasure to welcome you to
Purple Heart Month!
This month is dedicated to paying our respects to all the brave men and women wounded or killed in combat. The official Purple Heart Day is observed on the 7th day of August each year, commemorating the historic day in 1782 that General George Washington, Commander-In-Chief of the Continental Army, commissioned the first Purple Heart Medal, originally called the Badge of Military Merit.
The Badge of Military Merit is a purple, heart-shaped piece of silk bound with a thin edge of silver with the word merit embroidered in silver across the face. Only 3 Badges of Military Merit were awarded. The Badge of Military Merit was redesigned and re-commissioned in 1932 by General Douglas McArthur in honor of George Washington’s bicentennial birthday. Now known as the Purple Heart Medal – it is the oldest military award, first being awarded to soldiers in World War I and still given to soldiers today.
A presidential order signed in 1942 permitted the Purple Heart Medal to be awarded to all branches of the military including the U.S. Coast Guard. It was World War II, when the qualification to receive the Purple Heart Medal changed to honor those who were wounded or killed in combat – that is why it’s recipients often call it “the medal that nobody wants”. It is unknown how many soldiers actually received it. However, we know that the soldiers listed below are some of the most awarded Purple Heart Recipients in history:
Robert T. Frederick, U.S. Army: World War II (8)
David H. Hackworth, U.S. Army: Korean War (3), Vietnam War (5)
Joe Hooper, U.S. Army, Medal of Honor: Vietnam War (8)
Robert L. Howard, U.S. Army, Medal of Honor: Vietnam War (8)
William Waugh, U.S. Army: Vietnam War (8)
It took the Purple Heart medal many years to evolve into what it is today. Today, on the reverse of the medal, “FOR MILITARY MERIT” is inscribed. The medal itself is made of brass with a gold color to it, and also contains a bust of George Washington and his coat of arms. The purple color represents the blood of all those who have made sacrifices in war, but traditionally it represent the courage of those who serve. The original color of the medal George Washington created was purple, so it was only fitting that it would be used to honor his memory in the new medal.
The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) was formed in 1932. It is composed exclusively of men and women who have received the Purple Heart Medal and is the only Veteran’s Service Organization whose membership is comprised solely of “combat-wounded veterans”.
The Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation, also known as the Purple Heart Foundation, was later created in 1957 as a non-profit organization. For more than 60 years, the Purple Heart Foundation has solely dedicated itself to funding programs and services that support our nation’s heroes. Donate to show your support of the Purple Heart Foundation and to help us continue to serve our nation’s veterans who have already sacrificed so much.
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