The Purple Heart was instituted in 1782 by George Washington and is the first American decoration. Originally it was awarded for bravery in action, currently it is awarded to those wounded or killed in action, in the latter case posthumously.
An Oak Leaf Cluster is added when a previously wounded person already has a Purple Heart. The decoration is a purple, heart-shaped badge with bronze edges. It depicts in relief a bust of George Washington wearing the uniform of a general in the Continental Army. On the reverse side is the inscription: “For Military Merit” with the recipient’s name below. It is estimated that just for World War II 1,076,245 Purple Hearts were awarded.
Go to www.thepurpleheart.com to find a list of recipients. To join our local Chapter 400 Order of the Purple Heart,
Florida Veteran Legislation Signed by Gov DeSantis on June 26, 2026
Three veteran related Bills that were signed by Governor DeSantis on June 26th 2026:
HB 0199 Veterans Affairs by Maney
06/12/2026 Approved by Governor; Chapter No. 2026-128 Veterans Affairs; Revises admissions process for veterans treatment court programs; authorizes court, in consultation with multidisciplinary team, to determine eligibility for veterans treatment court programs; requires court to consider recommendation of state attorney when making eligibility determination; authorizes sentencing courts to divert defendants to veterans treatment court programs under certain circumstances; requires certain notice be provided to defendants; provides for disposition of probation or community control violations by program participants.
HB 0253 Veterans Dental Care Grant Program by Edmonds
06/25/2026 Approved by Governor The bill expands eligibility for the Veterans Dental Care Grant Program established within the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The bill effectively requires veterans to have an income of up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level to be eligible for the program. The department set the current program eligibility to veterans with incomes up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level by administrative rule.
SB 1602 Housing for Veterans by Wright
06/11/2026 Approved by Governor; Chapter No. 2026-125 The bill creates the “Homes for Veterans Property Management Incentive Pilot Program” within the Florida Housing Finance Corporation for Broward, Escambia, Hillsborough, and Santa Rosa counties. The bill directs the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, in consultation with the local public housing authority and case managers assigned to veterans by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, to establish and oversee the document requirements and all processes of the pilot program.
I hope you all are enjoying your summer vacation and enjoying time with your family and friends! For those of you still seeking relief in cooler places, I can’t fault you for being away! Just a reminder that our next Chapter luncheon is September 8th. We continue to lose more veterans that are enrolled into the VA than we are signing up new veterans. The VA is funded based on the number of enrolled veterans. You served your country, and this is one of your earned benefits. The VA continues to seek out veterans who are not enrolled and asks that we encourage them to consider doing so. www.VA.gov offers a wealth of information for not only the veteran, but families and surviving spouses Looks like scammers haven’t taken the summer off and are up to their old tricks to deceive our members. Please be wary of opening emails or responding to “free veteran” post cards in the mail. We will Never ask you to purchase gift cards-we have a Treasurer that controls our chapter funds, and rest assured no one from our chapter will ask you to make a purchase. Please give thought to joining our Chapter Board of Directors. We are long overdue to having new faces represent our chapter. We especially need a Secretary to record the minutes when we have a Board Meeting. I produce a detailed agenda and the meeting is recorded. And it goes without saying that for many years now I’ve asked to have new blood at the helm as our Chapter President. I’m not going anywhere, as I’m deeply entrenched in our Veteran Councils and will remain so as the MOAA representative. Being the Chapter President is a very rewarding position and if you are looking to add another layer of purpose and meaning to your life, I can’t think of a better opportunity! Cheers, Lorraine If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. -John Quincy Adams
By Pat Green Friends, Happy 250th Birthday to you! I hope you have all received and read the special collaboration of Surviving Spouse topics of interest that was sent to you. There is another quite lengthy booklet that is available to you on the MOAA website. The publication is “The Day After Calls”. When I needed this information, it had not yet been compiled. But a dear friend used it last year, when her father-in-law died. Even though both she and her husband and father-in-law are retired Army officers, she found it invaluable. It is lengthy, but might come in very handy. Thinking about what to write about concerning Independence Day, I came across an interesting book review “Founders in Sync” by Meghan Cox Gurdon, in the Wall Street Journal. The book she reviewed is A PERFECT COINCIDENCE by Jim Rasenberger. It’s a story of a very unlikely coincidence. Meghan describes the book as “a delight, a sparkling work of narrative nonfiction that acquaints the reader with the thoughts and doings of two giants of American democracy, while telling the story of the founding of our fractious country”. The book is published by Scribner and 496 pages and makes the case for the Divine Hand in the moving of American affairs, Mr. Rasenberger writes of the on-off-on again friendship of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. They meet in Philadelphia in 1775 and collaborate on the Declaration of Independence. Then they become Ambassadors and great friends. During a Presidential campaign, their relationship crumbles. They are enemies for a decade. As their age advances, they rediscover their friendship. Both die on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. Oddly, another great contributor to our freedom, James Monroe died on July 4, 1831, five years later. A coincidence?
Women Veterans are invited to the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA) Women Veterans Summit, June 5–7, at The Westin Tampa Bay. This FREE event connects Women Veterans with leaders and community partners to provide resources for their ongoing success. Register and learn more:
Get ready to connect, empower, and uplift at the FDVA Women Veterans Summit – Stronger Together!
Join us for a powerful, purpose-driven weekend designed exclusively for women veterans who are ready to take control of their next chapter—health, career, business, leadership, and life.
Summit will be held on the waterfront at beautiful and newly renovated The Westin Tampa Bay: address 7627 West Courtney Campbell Causeway, Tampa, FL 33607. This immersive summit brings together trusted experts, fellow women veterans, and community partners for honest conversations, practical guidance, and meaningful connection. This is not a conference where you sit and listen. This is where you learn, engage, plan, and leave with clarity.
Who Should Attend? Women veterans at any stage of transition -Women navigating VA benefits, healthcare, or life planning -Aspiring and established entrepreneurs -Career-focused women preparing for civilian roles -Leaders, advocates, and community builders -Spouses and supporters are welcome for select sessions.
Why Stronger Together? Because no woman veteran should have to navigate life after service alone. This summit was built by women veterans, for women veterans—grounded in real experience, trusted expertise, and the belief that when we come together, we are stronger, clearer, and more prepared for whatever comes next.
Agenda
Friday June 5th Foundations & Health
3:00 PM – 09:00 PM
Friday: Foundations & Health * VA Claims 101 – Understand how to file a claim, what an “intent to file” means, how Nexus letters work, what to expect during exams, and realistic timelines. *Ask the Doc: Women’s Health by Life Stage – Direct access to healthcare professionals covering key health milestones from your 20s through menopause and beyond. *Welcome Reception – Hawaiian Luau – Wear your grass shirts, Hawaiian shirts and connect with fellow women veterans in a relaxed waterfront setting as we kick off the weekend together.
Saturday – Purpose, Planning & Possibility
09:00 AM – 04:00 PM
Saturday: Purpose, Planning & Possibility Opening Session & Keynote – Set the tone for a day focused on growth and direction. Operation Mindset – Learn how to translate military experience into confidence, clarity, and momentum for your next chapter. · Mission Forward – Strategic goal planning to help you move from intention to execution. Lunch & Pop-Up Market – Support veteran-owned businesses and community partners. Breakout Tracks – Choose the path that aligns with where you are now: Entrepreneurship – Before you form an LLC: business models, customer discovery, and problem-solution fit. Career Readiness – Resume alignment, job descriptions, and beating the keyword game. Leadership & Advocacy – Turn lived experience into leadership, influence, and impact. VA Education Benefits – Degrees, certifications, credentialing, and building a realistic education plan. Advanced Life Planning – Advance care planning, medical directives, survivor benefits, and honoring your wishes.
