Monday, March 11, 2013, Juneau, Alaska – The Alaska House of Representatives today passed House Concurrent Resolution 2, sponsored by Representative Shelley Hughes, which proclaims Alaska as a Purple Heart State.

Once passed, Alaska will join other states that chose to honor their veterans in the same way.

“Purple Heart Medal recipients are members of an exclusive club, but unlike other types of membership, this is one they didn’t pursue or seek to join,” Hughes, R-Palmer, said. “We choose to honor the men and women in uniform who were wounded or who paid the ultimate sacrifice, and give them the recognition they deserve.”

The Purple Heart Medal is the oldest military decoration still in use, and the first award made available for the common soldier. The Alaska Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart currently reports having approximately 300 members, and the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles has issued 716 Purple Heart license plates to date. Because Alaska has the highest veteran population per capita in the United States, we assume more Purple Heart Medal recipients live quietly among us than these numbers reflect.

“It is fitting to declare Alaska as a Purple Heart State,” Hughes said. “Honoring Purple Heart recipients, past and present, acknowledges them for their sacrifices. Typically when veterans are identified it helps raise awareness of the benefits available to them; this is always a good thing. Those who serve on behalf of our country should have our deepest respect, and it is clear that the Alaska House chose to honor Alaska veterans by passage of this resolution.”

HCR 2 passed the House unanimously and now moves to the Alaska Senate for consideration.