5 hours ago
Last Updated:August 07, 2025, 21:28 IST
President Trump will host a White House ceremony to honor nearly 100 Purple Heart recipients, featuring veterans and notable stories of bravery, on Purple Heart Day.
Medals, including a Purple Heart and Silver Star, that belonged to combat photographer Richard Taylor are seen on May 10, 2024, in College Park, Maryland. (AFP)
US President Donald Trump will host a special ceremony at the White House on Thursday to recognise nearly 100 recipients of the Purple Heart, the US military decoration awarded to service members wounded or killed in combat.
The event, set to take place at 4 p.m. in the East Room, aligns with Purple Heart Day and is intended to pay tribute to those who have made significant sacrifices in service to the nation, according to USA TODAY.
The award, established by George Washington in 1782, is one of the oldest military honours in the United States.
Among the attending veterans are three individuals who had sent their Purple Heart medals to Trump last year, after the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024.
Trump sustained a minor injury during the incident when a bullet grazed his right ear. Veterans Thomas Matteo, Gerald Enter Jr., and John Ford sent their decorations in a gesture of solidarity.
Trump’s 2024 campaign manager, Chris LaCivita, is also expected to attend. A Marine Corps veteran, LaCivita was awarded the Purple Heart in 1991 for wounds suffered during the Gulf War.
One of the stories being highlighted is that of Kevin Jensen, a military specialist who rescued Capt. Sam Brown from a burning Humvee in Afghanistan after an IED explosion.
Brown, a Purple Heart recipient himself, was recently confirmed by the Senate as Trump’s Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs, according to the report.
The event will also feature a father-son duo, Kevin and Brian Willette, both of whom earned the Purple Heart for their service in Afghanistan.
In a statement to USA TODAY, assistant White House press secretary Taylor Rogers said, “President Trump cares deeply about honouring our brave men and women in uniform, and today, he will recognise those who have earned this distinction and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom."
To date, more than 1.8 million Americans have received the Purple Heart. The heart-shaped medal, featuring a purple background with gold trim and George Washington’s profile, stands as a symbol of bravery and sacrifice in the face of enemy fire.
view commentsLocation :United States of America (USA)
First Published:August 07, 2025, 21:28 IST
News world Trump To Honour 100 Purple Heart Recipients At White House Ceremony
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