| Formation: | 1932 |
| Headquarters: | Springfield, VA |
| Leader Title: | National Commander |
| Leader Name: | Carder Ferguson |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart | |
| Membership: | Approx. 49,300 |
| Website: | purpleheart.org |
The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) is a congressionally chartered (Title 36 USC Chapter 1405) United States war veterans organization. Headquartered just outside Washington, D.C., it has a membership of approximately 45,300 veterans. It is unique in that its members are exclusively men and women who have received the Purple Heart award while serving as a member of the U.S. Military.
The MOPH's stated mission is "to foster an environment of goodwill and camaraderie among combat wounded veterans, promote patriotism, support necessary legislative initiatives, and most importantly, provide service to all veterans and their families."
The MOPH Service Program exists to assist all U.S. Military veterans (to include members as well as nonmembers) in working with the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and filing claims for benefits.[1]
The MOPH's Youth Activities Program is designed to instill the values of patriotism and good citizenry among America's youth. This includes recognizing outstanding ROTC and JROTC leaders in the U.S. and Department of Defense dependent schools globally.
The Military Order of the Purple Heart's Veterans Affairs Volunteer Service (VAVS) Program operates the largest volunteer system in the U.S. Federal Government. VAVS works with the VA to supplement resources for the care, treatment and welfare of veteran patients.
The MOPH Scholarship Program is designed to provide monetary assistance for college to applicants who are either:
In addition, the members must:
The Americanism Program of the MOPH works with schools and outside organizations to "promote U.S. history and the quest for freedom", and is administered by the MOPH National Americanism Officer.
The Purple Heart Trail system, established by the MOPH in 1992, is purposed to "create a symbolic and honorary system of roads, highways, bridges, and other monuments that give tribute to the men and women who have been awarded the Purple Heart medal." The program places, where legislation is passed, signs designed to remind motorists of the freedom of their country, and of those who have paid to keep it that way. The program designates bridges, sections of highways, and other roads as part of the trail. It forms noncontinuous paths and is present in 45 states and the territory of Guam.
The purpose of MOPH's First Responder Program is to honor police officers and firefighters who are killed or wounded in the line of duty. These people are honored by the creation of a commemorative plaque.
The Military Order of the Purple Heart Auxiliary (MOPHA) is a sister organization of the MOPH. Its members include parents, spouses, children, widowed stepchildren, grandchildren and legally adopted children, lineal descendants of Purple Heart recipients, who may or may not be MOPH members themselves. It functions as a separate organization from the MOPH, but shares the same goals and mission.
The Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation is the fundraising engine of the MOPH. Its stated purpose and objectives are:
In 2007, the MOPH Service Foundation was rated "F" by the American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP) because only 32% of money raised for the organization went to charity programs. The Charity Navigator gave the MOPH a 0-star overall rating, a 0-star financial rating and a 3-star accountability and transparency rating for the 2018 fiscal year.[2]
Also in 2007, executive director Richard Esau was fired from the Service Foundation after an audit showed money spent on possible conflict of interest projects. Money was donated to the Intrepid Museum in New York City shortly before the museum hired the daughter of a member of the Foundation's board of directors. The Foundation gave $100,000 to the Marine Corps Reserve Officers Association, where Esau had once worked and his wife still worked.
In 2010, Ret. Col. Henry Cook III sued the MOPH, saying he was wrongfully dismissed from his post as National Commander. In an affidavit submitted, Cook says his removal was "for my exposing of the mismanagement of funds and grants of "Purple Heart Dollars" on national television." The MOPH responded, "We absolutely disagree with Mr. Cook's allegations in the lawsuit, and we also disagree with Mr. Cook's effort to 'try' his case in the media. We will not otherwise comment on pending litigation, but rather will let this matter run its course through the court system." The case was dismissed in June 2011.