The Park and Honorary Memorial marker are located at:
500 N Lake Shore Dr (at Ohio St)

A small vehicle has been straining to pull the State of IL Military Order of the Purple Heart Movable Memorial Wall of Honor.  This Memorial is taken all across the State of IL to different venues and Patriotic events.  With limited funds the Department of IL availed of a generous National Philanthropic gesture provided by AAMCO.  This generous collaboration between The National Military Order of the Purple Heart Veterans Service Organization visa vie AAMCO is to Thank a Nation, most especially America’s Purple Heart recipients. This remarkable gesture was to Celebrate AAMCO’s  50th Anniversary.  The IL Finance officer & Our Department Adjutant drove the vehicle to a local repair facility just to the south of Chicago’s Midway Airport.  After  a few weeks of diligent investigation, desperately needed repairs were discovered and resolved. The wiring of this vehicle was defective causing it to malfunction on many levels.  The economy has caused the Department of IL to stretch their donation dollars, and to be as fiscally responsible with the devastating decrease of contributions. AAMCO’s generosity has afforded this IL Purple Heart Organization comprised of “Combat Wounded Veterans” to be able to continue their mission of honoring the Sacrifices of IL’s Fallen G.I.s. Thank You from the bottom of our HEARTS! ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

“AAMCO, the world’s largest chain of transmission specialists, is celebrating 50 years, and to mark the occasion is collaborating with the Military Order of the Purple Heart to repair 50 Cars in 50 States. Also, one selected family will win a new car.

“Turning 50 is a tremendous milestone for AAMCO and a great opportunity to give back to the communities in which we operate,” said Marc Graham , Chairman & CEO of AAMCO Transmissions, Inc. “In these times of national conflict, I can’t think of a more deserving and appropriate group to work with than America’s wounded veterans and their families.”

In celebration of its 50th anniversary in 2012, AAMCO is launching the 50 Cars in 50 States campaign with the charitable partnership. The Military Order of the Purple Heart and AAMCO will select a veteran in each state to receive free auto repairs, at a local participating AAMCO dealer location. 50 Cars in 50 States will launch this summer and will run through the end of the year until repairs are complete. Additionally, one deserving veteran and their family will receive a brand new car. Details of the individuals and families selected for the promotion will be announced at a future date.

“Our AAMCO dealers are proud to give back their time by conducting complimentary vehicle repairs for members of such a worthy and esteemed military veteran organization,” said Mike Ganjei , chairman of the AAMCO National Creative Committee and president of the National AAMCO Dealers Association.

The Military Order of the Purple Heart serves the needs of its 43,000 members, all of which are combat-wounded veterans who have received the Purple Heart Medal. It also provides free services to all veterans to assist with Veterans Affairs claims, homelessness and employment opportunities.

There are nearly 4,000 new Purple Heart recipients returning home from the War on Terror, and many of those vets are in need of a properly functioning and safe vehicle.

“We are thrilled to be working with AAMCO on their anniversary campaign,” said John P. Leonard , National Adjunct at the Military Order of the Purple Heart. “America’s combat-wounded veterans and their families appreciate support and acknowledgement from programs like 50 Cars in 50 States, especially at a time when the Federal government can provide only limited funds on car repairs.”

Thank You AAMCO for your Support to Move our Memorial on the Highways and Byways of Illinois. Your repairs and support are “PRICELESS!”

May this Memorial Day be Memorable ………….

REFLECTIONS of Repairs & Restoration

Irma I. Cornier                    Grandfather                     Korea

Jennifer P. Duzinskas           Husband                          OIF

Christina Finn                        Husband                       Vietnam

Katherine M. Leverich        Grandfather             WWII & EX-POW

Gabriella D. Tuminello        Grandfather             WWII & EX-POW

Nicholas L. Weiman          Grandfather                      Korea

Each recipient will receive their $ 2,000 scholarship by Memorial Day 2013

]]> http://moph-il.org/2013/05/16/2013-2014-il-moph-scholarship-recipients/feed/ 0 http://moph-il.org/2013/05/11/il-2013-rotc-awards-from-the-moph/ http://moph-il.org/2013/05/11/il-2013-rotc-awards-from-the-moph/#comments Sat, 11 May 2013 05:15:42 +0000 Christina Finn http://moph-il.org/?p=3878

“BIG” Jim Wiginton,
Cadet Robert Anthony Mihajlov
Lockport High School JROTC,
and Patriot Phil Galvan

Cadet Ensign Matas Leskauskas, JROTC Richards High School. He hopes to attend the United States Naval Academy or a school with a Navy ROTC program & State of IL officers Dan Finn, John Kapior and PH member Rich Lumen

Cadet Eshleman ROTC at IIT & Daniel Finn;
then State of IL Commander

Cadet Groshi ROTC at IIT &
Daniel Finn;
then State of IL Commander

Several years ago, in 1987, the Department of Florida adopted a resolution proposed by Indian River Chapter 494 for the creation of a national Military Order of the Purple Heart ROTC award to be available for presentation by chapters and departments to local ROTC cadets throughout the country. This resolution, in turn, was adopted by the 55th National Convention held in Orlando, Florida in August 1987. In 1991, after all design and presentation details were worked out, the MOPH Leadership Medal for ROTC and Junior ROTC units became a reality. The impetus for the medal originated with George Rairden, Americanism Officer for Indian River Chapter 4.
Patriot Rairden’s idea was that the National Headquarters issue medals for academic and military excellence to deserving ROTC students throughout the country. This proposal was supported by the unanimous acclamation of the Floridian Purple Hearters. Key points of Resolution #10, passed unanimously by the 1987 National Convention in Orlando were as follows:

-The purpose was to be to “honor outstanding members in the Junior and Senior ROTC programs for military and scholastic excellence,”

• -Two medals were to be designed, one for ROTC use and one for Junior ROTC presentation,
• -Medals were to be made available to chapters and departments at cost “for awarding in their respective communities.”

The bad news is that of these three guidelines, not one was adhered to in the final creation of the Order’s award. The good news is that the medal we now have is enormously popular everywhere it has been utilized. What happened to change the design envisioned at the 1987 Convention to the final product follows.

Adhering to the decision to develop a Purple Heart ROTC Award, then Adjutant General Frank Athanason worked with one of our national suppliers to strike the medal. Initially, the medal was designed with five different bars across the top – leadership, merit, scholarship, recruiting and excellence. As work on the medal proceeded, it became apparent that what the cadets would value most was not the medal itself, which could seldom actually be worn, but a ribbon, which could be worn above the uniform pocket with other ribbons on a regular basis. Additional work produced the plain purple ribbon.

By 1990, medals and ribbons were in hand but much remained to be done before actual issuance of the awards could commence. The Training Command of each service had to be contacted to obtain permission for the awarding of the medals, and for the wearing of the ribbon as an official part of the cadet uniform. Initial discussion with the Department of the Army indicated that the multiple formats were not viable. A large array of awards were already in existence (for example, the American Legion officer’s awards specifically for military excellence and scholastic excellence,) and the Purple Heart needed to find its own niche to occupy. After careful consideration, it was determined that a LEADERSHIP award would be most readily accepted by the services. The other awards (merit, etc.) were therefore dropped and official approval of all services for the newest ROTC award – the Military Order of the Purple Heart Leadership Award – was obtained. A certificate to accompany the medal and ribbon was developed by 1992. Thus neither the initial proposal for the criteria of the award nor the separate “ROTC and Junior ROTC medal concept survived from drawing board to reality. Also not surviving the planning process, however, was the “available at cost” idea. The medals are currently available from National Headquarters at absolutely NO COST to ROTC units or MOPH Chapters!

Patriot Rairden’s idea was that the National Headquarters issue medals for academic and military excellence to deserving ROTC students throughout the country. This proposal was supported by the unanimous acclamation of the Floridian Purple Hearters. Key points of Resolution #10, passed unanimously by the 1987 National Convention in Orlando were as follows:

-The purpose was to be to “honor outstanding members in the Junior and Senior ROTC programs for military and scholastic excellence,”

• -Two medals were to be designed, one for ROTC use and one for Junior ROTC presentation,
• -Medals were to be made available to chapters and departments at cost “for awarding in their respective communities.”

The bad news is that of these three guidelines, not one was adhered to in the final creation of the Order’s award. The good news is that the medal we now have is enormously popular everywhere it has been utilized. What happened to change the design envisioned at the 1987 Convention to the final product follows.

Adhering to the decision to develop a Purple Heart ROTC Award, then Adjutant General Frank Athanason worked with one of our national suppliers to strike the medal. Initially, the medal was designed with five different bars across the top – leadership, merit, scholarship, recruiting and excellence. As work on the medal proceeded, it became apparent that what the cadets would value most was not the medal itself, which could seldom actually be worn, but a ribbon, which could be worn above the uniform pocket with other ribbons on a regular basis. Additional work produced the plain purple ribbon.

By 1990, medals and ribbons were in hand but much remained to be done before actual issuance of the awards could commence. The Training Command of each service had to be contacted to obtain permission for the awarding of the medals, and for the wearing of the ribbon as an official part of the cadet uniform. Initial discussion with the Department of the Army indicated that the multiple formats were not viable. A large array of awards were already in existence (for example, the American Legion officer’s awards specifically for military excellence and scholastic excellence,) and the Purple Heart needed to find its own niche to occupy. After careful consideration, it was determined that a LEADERSHIP award would be most readily accepted by the services. The other awards (merit, etc.) were therefore dropped and official approval of all services for the newest ROTC award – the Military Order of the Purple Heart Leadership Award – was obtained. A certificate to accompany the medal and ribbon was developed by 1992. Thus neither the initial proposal for the criteria of the award nor the separate “ROTC and Junior ROTC medal concept survived from drawing board to reality. Also not surviving the planning process, however, was the “available at cost” idea. The medals are currently available from National Headquarters at absolutely NO COST to ROTC units or MOPH Chapters!

The Inaugural Unveiling of the State of IL’s FIRST ever Portrait Memorial dedicated to the Fallen was viewed by the Gold Star Families on June 14, 2009 in a closed invitation only event to Honor our Gold Star Families. The MOPH-IL Movable Memorial Wall of Honor is dedicated to all IL service men & women that have given up their lives in Service to our nation, since before we were even a Nation. The extensive history of this Nations wars and conflicts are represented by the WWII, Korean, and Vietnam war panels and followed by Ceramic Tile Photographic Portraits of our IL casualties since 911, from Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn.

This is a Memorial to be viewed by young and old alike, to Honor, Pause, Reflect and Remember the Sacrifices laid down by our Brave Service Men and Women from the “HEART of America!” Two of our women in Uniform that paid the ultimate Sacrifice were with child, when they passed. There are currently #10 Lionesses that have perished in the line of duty. There are 274 individuals Represented & Remembered on the Memorial Wall of Honor. A detailed binder has information about EACH individual’s Military affiliation.

May 18th, 2013  Navy Pier Armed Forces Day with The USO

Navy Pier 600 E. Grand Ave Chicago, IL 60611

10:00am-3:00pm - Registration & Wristband Pick-Up  12:00pm - Armed Forces Day Salute Ceremony at Navy Pier’s

Grand Staircase featuring military color guard, military bands and keynote speaker Brigadier General Daniel M. Krumrei, Adjutant General, Illinois National Guard

http://usoofillinois.org/

May 25th, 2013  Fairbury American Legion racetrack, Memorial Day event * Details TBA

May 28th, 2013  Medinah Country Club http://medinahpatriotday.com/

June 2nd, 2013  Omar E. Torres Memorial Scholarship fundraiser Sundown Meadow Countryside,

*Forest Preserve  10:00 – 3:00 Killed in Action Iraq 8-22-2007

For information and or details about our Memorial Please contact: Patriot Daniel Finn email: Danfinn@moph-il.org

******The Department of IL Military Order of the Purple Heart Organization reserves the right to NOT display the Movable Memorial Wall at any venue due to weather conditions or other unpredictable situations. There are *NO Fees charged for the Display of this Moving Tribute to The Fallen and their Families.  The Order has total and complete decision of where and when the Memorial will be displayed for both logistical and appropriate Patriotic Community events. The Members and Leadership of the MOPH-IL are the caretakers and protectors of this Memorial. Thank you for your interest to Pause, Reflect and Remember America’s Brave Service Men & Women that have Paid the Ultimate Sacrifice.