Springfield, VA, April 21, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A., Inc. (MOPH) regrets to announce that, effective June 30, 2018, it will no longer be able to provide assistance with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to Veterans and their families through the MOPH National Service Program. Effective on that date, all offices of the MOPH Service Program will be closed and all Veterans’ claims now being administered by MOPH National Service Officers will be transferred to accredited Service Officers of other Veteran Service Organizations or to State or County Service officers, as appropriate. No Veterans’ claims will be stopped or harmed in any way by this action.

Closure of the MOPH National Service Program has been made necessary by failure of the Purple Heart Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Organization, to be able to raise sufficient funds to sustain operation of the Service Program and a number of other programs of the Order. Faced with a dramatic reduction of 50% of the prior year’s operating budget, already well below earlier years, the MOPH has been left with no choice other than to dramatically reduce expenditures for its outreach programs.

This announcement in no way affects continuation of the MOPH as a patriotic and fraternal organization, composed solely of our Nation’s combat wounded Veterans. MOPH wants to assure the public that service to Veterans remains our number one priority. Every possible action is being taken to streamline operating costs, while at the same time restructuring our fundraising efforts to reach out to new and existing sponsors and supporters for their assistance in continuing the Order’s support of Veterans and their families.

The "Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A. Inc.," (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 international terrorism. For this sacrifice, they were awarded the Purple Heart Medal. With grants from the Purple Heart Foundation, the MOPH and its Auxiliary promote Patriotism, Fraternalism, and the Preservation of America's military history. Until now, through its National Service Program, the MOPH has provided comfort and assistance to all Veterans and their families, especially those requiring claims assistance with the VA, those who are homeless, and those requiring employment assistance. Programs of the MOPH include VA Volunteer Service, JROTC Leadership Awards, Scholarships, Suicide Awareness, Americanism, Purple Heart Trail and Cities, Welfare, and numerous community service programs, all with the objective of service to Veterans and their families.

John E. Bircher III Military Order of the Purple Heart of the USA, Inc. 352-753-5535 publicrelations@purpleheart.org