Sen. Larkin signs the truck
NEW WINDSOR — Dozens gathered at the National Purple Heart Hall
of Honor to watch retired U.S. Army Sergeant Justin Burdette become the
next Purple Heart recipient to drive the special 2018 Purple Heart truck.
The truck was specially made for amputee veterans to drive and has been
traveling across the country since Sunday.
Originally from Palm Bay, Florida, Burdette served three tours of duty
in Afghanistan and received the Purple Heart medal after losing both of
his legs below the knees while in combat. He was picked from a nationwide
search of eligible nominees to ride the truck.
Burdette
While he declined to speak at the ceremony, he spoke afterwards about
how honored he was.
“It means a lot [to be here],” he said. “I really enjoy
getting out and raising awareness for what other service members are going
through.”
John Bircher, national director of public relations for the Military Order
of the Purple Heart organization, touched on the significance of the truck
for injured military veterans.
“We want to show that mobility is freedom,” he said. “One
of the hardest things for [injured veterans] to do is to get up and get
out of the house.
That’s what this truck is all about; it has been modified so it
can be driven by an injured or amputee veteran, and as the driver who
first drove it told me, ‘it makes me feel like a man again.’”
MOPH National Commander Neil Van Ess presented retiring State Senator
Bill Larkin (R, Cornwall-on-Hudson) the George Washington Medallion of
Merit for his record of service during World War II, Korea and Vietnam,
and his continued commitment to making sure veterans are honored for their
service. To this end, he played a major role in the campaign to establish
the National Purple Heart of Honor in New Windsor.
“I know what a leader is, and Senator Larkin has done a lot of wonderful
things that people in this Valley know,” he said. “When you
spearheaded this hall of honor, you gave the ultimate acknowledgement
of bringing us all home. You preserve our legacy for all time.”
Larkin, who also got to sign the truck, was humbled by the honor.
“What I received was an award that you don’t receive every
day,” he said. “In all my endeavors, I wasn’t looking
to receive awards, I was looking to serve my people.”
The Purple Heart Truck Run has been touring across the country for three
years. This year, it plans to cross nearly 8,000 miles and will stop at
Spokane, Washington, where the MOPH National Convention will take place.
