On August 7, 2025, the White House East Room was filled with emotion, gratitude, and a sense of history as President Donald Trump honored nearly 100 Purple Heart recipients. The event, held on National Purple Heart Day, was a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by America’s military personnel and the enduring legacy of a medal that has symbolized courage and sacrifice for over two centuries.
The ceremony was more than just a formal recognition—it carried the weight of recent history. Just over a year ago, on July 13, 2024, Trump survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a bullet pierced the upper part of his right ear, days before the Republican National Convention. In a gesture that deeply moved the president, three wounded veterans—Thomas Matteo, Gerald Enter Jr., and John Ford—sent him their own Purple Heart medals in the aftermath of the attack. Trump, visibly touched, noted, “What a great honor to get those Purple Hearts. I guess, in a certain way, it wasn’t that easy for me either, when you think of it. But you went through a lot more than I did, and I appreciate it very much.”
According to the Associated Press, some of these veterans were later brought to Trump’s campaign stops so that he could return their medals to them in person, a symbolic act underscoring mutual respect and camaraderie among those who have faced danger for their country. The president offered “everlasting thanks to you and your unbelievable families,” echoing the sentiment that the nation’s debt to its wounded warriors can never truly be repaid.
The event also marked a significant milestone: the formal establishment of August 7 as National Purple Heart Day. Trump signed a presidential proclamation during the ceremony, making it official. As reported by UPI, he reflected on the origins of the award, reminding attendees that Gen. George Washington created the Purple Heart on August 7, 1782, presenting a purple ribbon shaped like a heart to three soldiers for their gallantry in battle. “Just as George Washington did 243 years ago, today we give our everlasting thanks to you and your unbelievable families,” Trump said, drawing a direct line from the Revolutionary War to the present day.
The Purple Heart is the oldest military award still in use in the United States. Initially a badge for military merit, it was officially revived in 1932 by Gen. Douglas MacArthur and the War Department. In 1944, the criteria were narrowed: the medal would be awarded solely to those wounded or killed in combat or as a result of acts of terrorism. Today, nearly 1.9 million service members have received the honor, according to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor and UPI. The award, as Trump noted, “tells a story of courage, sacrifice and purpose” and “speaks of a price paid for the soldier beside you, the country behind you and the generations of Americans yet to come.”
The ceremony’s guest list included an array of military leaders and decorated veterans. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were all in attendance. Chris LaCivita, Trump’s former campaign co-manager and a Marine veteran who received a Purple Heart in 1991 during the Gulf War, was also present and singled out for recognition. Trump commended LaCivita’s service and sacrifice, highlighting the personal connections that thread through the nation’s military history.
The president also took time to honor other stories of valor. He spoke of Army Specialist Kevin Jensen, whose Humvee was struck by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2008. In the chaos and flames that followed, Jensen, despite suffering deep third-degree burns, rescued his platoon leader, Capt. Sam Brown. Trump recounted, “He flew 10 feet up in the air, exploded in flames. The whole place was in flames, including, unfortunately, Kevin. He suffered deep, third-degree burns all over his body. He was in trouble, big trouble. Despite the agony, he selflessly ran to the aid of his platoon leader.” Jensen and Brown both earned the Purple Heart for their actions that day. Brown, recently confirmed as the Military Affairs Department’s under-secretary for memorial affairs, was also honored at the event.
Other families recognized included Kevin Willette and his son Brian Willette, both of whom received Purple Hearts while serving in Afghanistan. Trump’s words, as cited by UPI, reflected the breadth of sacrifice across generations: “We’re here to honor and celebrate the unyielding patriotism and grit and devotion to America’s Purple Heart veterans with emotion and great love.”
Amid the solemnity, Trump did not shy away from referencing his own presidential decisions, particularly those affecting military affairs. He took a moment to recall authorizing the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Referring to Soleimani as the “father of the roadside bomb,” Trump remarked with characteristic bravado, “Where is he? Where is he?” drawing laughter from the audience. The comment, reported by the Associated Press, highlighted the ongoing threats faced by American service members and the political complexities of military engagement abroad.
The significance of the Purple Heart, however, remained the event’s central theme. The medal’s history stretches back to the earliest days of the republic, but it has evolved alongside the nation. Gen. Washington’s original ribbon was a rare honor, and for nearly 150 years, the award was largely forgotten until its revival in the 20th century. Today, its presentation is both a recognition of individual bravery and a collective act of remembrance for all who have suffered in the defense of the United States.
For Trump and the veterans gathered in the East Room, the day was a chance to bridge personal experience and national memory. The president’s own brush with violence, the outpouring of support from wounded veterans, and the formalization of National Purple Heart Day all came together in a moment that was both deeply personal and profoundly public. The stories told—of battlefield heroics, family legacies, and the enduring bonds of service—served as a reminder that the cost of freedom is borne by individuals whose courage often goes unseen.
As the ceremony concluded, the message was clear: while medals can be pinned to uniforms or displayed in glass cases, the true measure of sacrifice is found in the lives changed, the families affected, and the spirit of resilience that defines America’s military community. On this National Purple Heart Day, that spirit was on full display, reminding the nation of the price paid for its freedoms—and the gratitude owed to those who pay it.
