Legislation was heard this week to allow veterans who have earned a Purple Heart to have free access to Minnesota’s state parks. The bill adds a special designation on the recipient’s drivers’ license, and allows veterans to use the ID to bring business to stores that offer Purple Heart discounts. The legislation was offered to honor Purple Heart recipients for their service to our country. A veteran testified that one of the most important things wounded veterans can do is keep busy. With our abundance of state parks, it is one way to allow more wounded veterans stay active and involved in the community.
The Purple Heart was established by General George Washington in 1782. It is the nation’s oldest military decoration still in use. The combat decoration is awarded to military and civilian members of the U.S. Armed Forces who are wounded or killed in war. According to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, there have been about 1.7 million Purple Heart recipients in the nation’s history. The bill passed the Committee on Transportation and Public Safety and was re-referred to the Finance Committee. (S.F. 345)
