MOPH Urges Selection of a Veteran as Secretary of Veterans Affairs

The Military Order of the Purple Heart calls on President Elect Donald Trump to continue the time-honored tradition of naming a person with prior military experience to head the Department of Veterans Affairs.  There has never been a Secretary of Veterans Affairs who has not served his/her country in military uniform.  To be effective, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must have a genuine belief in the debt owed to our nation’s military men and women for their service to our nation; have substantive experience working on veterans’ physical and mental health care issues during his/her lifetime; be knowledgeable on the myriad problems faced by Veterans as they navigate the VA Healthcare System, and be committed to addressing the concerns of both our nation’s veterans and those VA employees who serve them.  To date, none of the names mentioned as possible candidates would be acceptable to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, principally because none have served their country in uniform so could not possibly understand what veterans go through upon leaving service.

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 Congress, The MOPH is unique among Veteran Service Organizations in that all its members were wounded in combat.  For this sacrifice, they were awarded the Purple Heart Medal.  With grants from the MOPH Service Foundation, the MOPH and its Ladies Auxiliary promote Patriotism, Fraternalism, and the Preservation of America’s military history.  Most importantly, through veteran service, they provide 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, Americanism, Purple Heart Trail and Cities, Welfare, and numerous community service programs, all with the objective of service to Veterans and their families.

For information contact:

National Public Relations Director

John Bircher

352-753-5535

About Jeff Cavanagh

Jeff Cavanagh spent his freshman year at St. Petersburg Junior College back in the early 70s before enlisting in the United States Navy. Soon after, he attended Jacksonville University on a Navy ROTC scholarship. After college, he was commissioned and became a qualified Surface Warfare Officer spending the next 22 years honing his skills as a ship-handler and expert recruiter before retiring in 1994. Jeff expresses a deep sense of pride in St. Petersburg College due to connections that go back many years. His father, Tom Cavanagh, was a career Air Force fighter pilot and combat veteran who taught Geography and Western Civilization at St. Petersburg Junior College in the 60’s and 70’s.