Purple Heart Memorial, Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville
The Purple Heart Memorial is a red and pink granite tablestone style marker with a lectern top on a single base. On the front left half of the marker a Purple Heart Medal has been incised around which appear the words: 1782 MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART 1932. The base inscription is from Shakespeare’s “Henry V” to his “Band of Brothers.”
Lectern top: DEDICATED TO ALL MEN AND WOMEN / WOUNDED IN ALL OUR WARS
Front, right half: MY STONE IS RED / FOR THE BLOOD THEY SHED / THE MEDAL I BEAR / IS MY COUNTRY’S WAY / TO SHOW THEY CARE. / IF I COULD BE SEEN / BY ALL MANKIND / MAYBE PEACE WILL / COME IN MY LIFETIME
Front, left half around Purple Heart: [Vertical] COMBAT / [Horizontal] VETERANS / [Vertical] WOUNDED
Front bottom: ERECTED BY THE BEIRUT MEMORIAL CHAPTER 642 / MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART
Base: WE FEW, WE HAPPY FEW, WE BAND OF BROTHERS / FOR HE TO-DAY THAT SHEDS HIS BLOOD WITH ME / SHALL BE MY BROTHER
Camp Lejeune Marine Base
October 11, 2013
34.721650 , -77.367410
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“History of the Medal,” Military Order of the Purple Heart, purpleheart.org, (accessed November 29, 2020) Link
Brennan, Thomas. “Purple Heart Memorial Dedicated to Warriors,” Daily News (Jacksonville, NC), October 20, 2013, (accessed December 4, 2016) Link
Clark, Cpl. Charlie. “Purple Heart Memorial Unveiled at Wounded Warrior Battalion East Barracks,” The United States Marine Corps, October 11, 2013, (accessed December 4, 2020) Link
“George Washington Creates the Purple Heart,” History.com, (accessed December 4, 2016) Link
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Red and pink granite
Beirut Memorial Chapter 642 Military Order of the Purple Heart
$7,000
Retired Lt. Col. Tim Maxwell, a Purple Heart recipient and a leading force in the formation of the Wounded Warrior Regiment at Camp Lejeune, was the guest speaker for the ceremony. “Being together and being a team makes them much stronger,” Maxwell said. “My hope today is the Marines know their life isn’t over, and they can improve, make changes and keep moving forward.” Also speaking was Grant Beck, commander of Beirut Chapter 642 Military Order of the Purple Heart that donated the memorial. “This means a great deal to me and all those in my chapter,” he said “we have received the Purple Heart and understand the heartache the young men and women who wear the medal go through.”
The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the armed forces of the United States who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action. It is specifically a combat decoration but is also awarded to mistreated prisoners of war. Purple Heart Day is recognized on August 7 which is the day in 1782 that General George Washington created the “Badge for Military Merit” that evolved into the Purple Heart.
The organization known as the "Military Order of the Purple Heart," was formed in 1932 for the protection and mutual interest of all who have received the decoration. Composed exclusively of Purple Heart recipients, it is the only veterans service organization comprised strictly of “combat” veterans. Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapters across the county are placing memorial to honor those wounded in battle. Almost identical memorials have been placed in North Carolina in Raleigh, Wilson, Mint Hill, and other locations.
The memorial is located behind the Wounded Warriors Battalion-East Building, Wounded Warrior Drive, Camp Lejeune, NC.
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