Joint Release by the Military Order of the Purple Heart & Wounded Warrior Project

MOPH and WWP Applaud Expansion of Military Exchange and Commissary Privileges to Purple Heart Recipients, Disabled Veterans and their Caregivers

Washington, DC, Aug. 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) and Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) applaud the House and Senate Armed Services Committees for including the text of the Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act in the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which was passed by Congress on August 1, 2018, and signed into law by the president today.  MOPH and the Wounded Warrior Project took the lead in tirelessly advocating for this important expansion. This provision of the NDAA will extend on-base shopping privileges at military exchanges and commissaries to all veterans with service-connected disabilities from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), all Purple Heart recipients regardless of disability rating, and their eligible caregivers.  Currently, only currently serving servicemembers, veterans with 100 percent VA disability ratings, and their dependents are eligible to shop on base. 

 

The new privileges will go into effect for Purple Heart recipients, disabled veterans and caregivers on January 1, 2020, allowing them to take advantage of significant savings on groceries and retail items.  This will not only honor their service, but also provide growth to the customer bases of the exchange and commissary systems. 

 

According to MOPH National Commander, Doug Greenlaw, “MOPH has long advocated for commissary and exchange privileges for Purple Heart recipients, and we were immensely pleased that this was finally included in this year’s NDAA.  This is a win for veterans and a win for the commissary and exchange systems.”

 

“Wounded Warrior Project appreciates the leadership of Representative Lipinski and members of the Armed Services Committees for approving legislation to open commissaries, exchanges, and recreational programming to wounded warriors and their caregivers,” said René Bardorf, Senior Vice President of Government and Community Relations for the Wounded Warrior Project.  “This new law will provide significant cost savings for our warriors on a fixed income, and associated increases in revenue will help support on-base quality-of-life programs for those who serve and their families.”

 

About Military Order of the Purple Heart:  (MOPH) was formed in 1932 for the protection and mutual interest of all combat wounded veterans and active duty men and women who have received the decoration.  Chartered by the Congress, the MOPH is unique among Veteran Service Organizations in that all its members were wounded in combat or by an act of terrorism.  For their sacrifice, they were awarded the Purple Heart Medal.  With grants from the MOPH Service Foundation, the MOPH and its Auxiliary promote patriotism, fraternalism, and the preservation of America's military history.  Most importantly, through Veteran Service Officers, they provide comfort and assistance to all Veterans and their families, especially those requiring claims assistance with the VA.  Programs of the MOPH include VA Volunteer Service, Suicide Awareness, Homeless Veterans Assistance, JROTC Leadership Awards, Scholarships, Americanism, Purple Heart Trail and Cities, Welfare, and numerous community service programs, all with the objective of service to Veterans and their families.

About Wounded Warrior Project

Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers – helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more: http://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/about-us.

Aleks Morosky, Legislative Director
                    Military Order of the Purple Heart of the USA, Inc.
                    (703) 354-2140
                    aleksmorosky@purpleheart.org