The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs is proud to honor both Vietnam veterans and Purple Heart recipients this week during the Vietnam Veterans of America National Convention and on National Purple Heart Day with the lighting of the Governor’s Mansion and the Crescent City Connection. The VVA National Convention will be held Aug. 5-9 in New Orleans, and National Purple Heart Day is today.
“It is a great honor for Louisiana to host the VVA National Convention in New Orleans as we recognize Vietnam veterans as the largest cohort of veterans in the nation,” said LDVA Secretary Charlton Meginley. The Governor’s Mansion and Crescent City Connection will be lit yellow, red and green on Aug. 5-6 and Aug. 8-9 to honor Vietnam veterans during the VVA National Convention. On Aug. 7, both the Governor’s Mansion and CCC will be lit purple to honor Purple Heart recipients on National Purple Heart Day. LDVA awards the Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal to eligible veterans with an honorable discharge; to Purple Heart recipients; to veterans or the families of veterans who were Prisoners of War/Missing in Action; or to the families of veterans Killed in Action. Veterans or veterans’ family members may apply for a medal(s) online at https://vetaffairs.la.gov/louisiana-veterans-honor-medal; via email at veteran@la.gov; or by phone at 225.219.5000.
National Purple Heart Day is celebrated annually on Aug. 7 honoring the nearly two million servicemen and women for their sacrifice while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The Purple Heart, originally referred to as the Badge of Military Merit, is the military’s oldest medal created by Gen. George Washington in 1782.
