Illinois Valley Times

State Representative Bradley Fritts honored those who have earned a Purple Heart, stating, "Their bravery serves as a beacon of resilience and unity for us all." He made the statement in an Aug. 7 Facebook post.

"On Purple Heart Day, we recognize the courage, resilience, and sacrifice of all Purple Heart recipients," said Fritts, according to Facebook. "Their bravery serves as a beacon of resilience and unity for us all."

The Purple Heart is one of the first military medals given to all ranks and is the oldest military award actively presented to American service members. According to the United Service Organizations (USO), the first military award was the Fidelity Medallion, created by the Continental Congress in 1780 and awarded to three soldiers that year. In 1782, the Badge of Military Merit was created and is considered the Purple Heart’s predecessor.

Screenshot of Rep. Bradley Fritts' Aug. 7 Facebook post | State Representative Bradley Fritts Facebook page

National Purple Heart Day is an opportunity to honor those who received a Purple Heart Award for their service. It takes place on Aug. 7, and according to the National Purple Heart Honor Mission, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, recipients of the Purple Heart Award come together annually for a tribute service to share their stories.

The Veterans Administration (VA) estimates that there are 1.8 million recipients of the Purple Heart award. Veterans who have received this award are eligible for benefits through the VA, including higher priority for healthcare, education benefits like the post-9/11 G.I. Bill Chapter 33 benefits, and participation in programs such as the Yellow Ribbon program which helps pay for higher out-of-state, private school, foreign school, or graduate tuition. They also receive special consideration for compensation as combat veterans; active duty recipients may be exempt from the VA funding fee for a VA guaranteed home loan. Additional benefits from the VA may also be available.

Fritts is the State Representative for District 74 and took office in January 2023. He is a lifelong resident of Illinois and when not in Springfield, he works as a substitute teacher and farms with his family. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural and consumer economics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.