1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing with outrage and disbelief at reports that the Purple Heart — one of the highest and most sacred military honors our nation can bestow — is being handed to professional hockey players. The Purple Heart is not a publicity prop. It is not a ceremonial trinket. It is not a trophy for athletic excellence. It is awarded to members of our Armed Forces who were wounded or killed in action while serving this country under enemy fire. It is a symbol soaked in sacrifice, blood, and lifelong consequence. To place that medal around the neck of someone who has never faced combat is not celebratory — it is deeply disrespectful to every service member who has earned it through suffering and sacrifice. Our veterans live with amputations, traumatic brain injuries, PTSD, and graves marked with folded flags. Many families carry a permanent absence at their dinner tables because a loved one paid the ultimate price. Those are the people the Purple Heart exists to honor. To dilute its meaning for spectacle or political theater is an insult to both the fallen and the living. If this decision was made, I demand to know: • Who authorized it?
• Under what authority was it justified?
• Do you understand the gravity of diminishing a combat decoration reserved for the wounded and the dead? If this is inaccurate, then clarify it publicly and immediately. If it is true, correct it and ensure that our military honors are protected from being turned into props. Congress has a responsibility to safeguard the integrity of our military institutions and traditions. That includes defending the meaning of the honors earned by those who have bled for this country. Our service members deserve reverence — not symbolism that cheapens their sacrifice. I request, no, I expect an explanation.