The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. has been asked to comment on an FY 2014 National Defense Authorization Act requirement that tasks the Defense Department to review the Purple Heart’s current eligibility criteria. Specifically, should service members who are injured or killed by acts of violence, regardless of where they are stationed, be eligible for a Purple Heart? The victims of the 2009 military recruiting station attack in Little Rock, Ark., and shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, are the impetus behind the review. They were not awarded Purple Hearts, whereas 9/11 military victims did receive the medal.

In the members-only section of http://www.vfw.org is a link to the Purple Heart Survey. We ask that you forward this to every VFW member and Post so that all have an opportunity to take the survey before it ends on March 31.