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fontman
05-29-06, 08:16 AM
To the editor:
Jacksonville Daily News

This letter is an open invitation to all Purple Heart recipients from Camp Lejeune, New River Air Station, Cherry Point and the eastern area of North Carolina. It is extended to active duty, reservists, former military and retirees - basically, anyone who has been awarded a Purple Heart is invited to attend this event.

The event is a Purple Heart Dinner sponsored by the local Beirut Memorial Chapter 642 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. We would like to see hundreds of our fellow wounded warriors take part in this event. The date is June 24 at the American Legion Building, 146 Broadhurst Road in Jacksonville.

The dinner is free to all Purple Heart recipients. Social hour will commence at 6 p.m. with a ceremony and dinner to follow. Our guest speaker will be Lt. Gen. James F. Amos, commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force.

Since this dinner is to honor Purple Heart recipients and to promote camaraderie among combat veterans, participation will be limited to the recipient only - no spouses or family.

An RSVP is required along with proof of the Purple Heart award. The RSVP and proof can be mailed to P.O. Box 6, Jacksonville, N.C. 28541 or e-mailed to: purpleheart642@ec.rr.com; or visit our web site www.ncmoph.org or a web site set up just for the dinner: www.ncpurpleheart.org.

Those belonging to a Purple Heart chapter do not need proof of award.

We are looking forward to this spectacular event with great enthusiasm. As far as we know, this will be the largest Purple Heart dinner ever held under one roof.

The Beirut Memorial Chapter would like to thank the generous businesses of Jacksonville who will make this dinner possible. Without their support, we could not carry out this event.

I urge all of you who have been awarded the Purple Heart to attend. Some of you were wounded in the same engagement should get together and attend as a group. Put the word out to others.

Readers, if you have a neighbor who has been wounded, cut this out and give it to him or her.

As always, if you would like to become a member of our chapter, we meet on the second Tuesday of each month at the American Legion building at 7 p.m.

From the Beirut Memorial Chapter, thanks to all who serve in our armed forces for what you do for our country.

--- John Cooney is adjutant for the Beirut Memorial Chapter 642 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.