FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PA — In a moving ceremony held this week on Purple Heart Day, Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity returned a Purple Heart Medal to the son of a Vietnam War veteran, commemorating a legacy of service, sacrifice, and remembrance.
The decoration, awarded to the late Private First Class Ray Alvin Morgan for injuries sustained during his military service, was presented to his son, James Morgan, during an event at Fort Indiantown Gap. The medal had been held in the Pennsylvania Treasury’s vault after arriving as part of the 2023 unclaimed property report. Alongside the Purple Heart, the Vietnam Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal were also returned.
“This Purple Heart is a piece of Ray’s story,” Garrity said during the ceremony. “Returning this medal is a way to express our gratitude and appreciation for Ray’s service.” Garrity, a veteran herself, emphasized the personal significance of reuniting military awards with families, particularly on a day dedicated to honoring more than two million Purple Heart recipients.
Ray Morgan served in the U.S. Army from November 1965 through October 1967 in Company A, 4th Supply and Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Division. He was wounded in Vietnam and later discharged from active duty, receiving the Purple Heart while recovering at Valley Forge Hospital.
James Morgan described the moment of reclaiming his father’s medals as deeply emotional. “These medals personify honor, sacrifice, and duty of service to our country,” he said. He credited the Treasury’s Vault Manager, Lori Hetrick, with contacting him and guiding the return of his father’s awards.
Purple Heart Day, observed annually on August 7, commemorates the establishment of the Badge of Military Merit by George Washington in 1782 — the forerunner to the modern Purple Heart. The medal, recommissioned in 1932, is awarded to U.S. military personnel wounded or killed in enemy action. Of the more than two million recipients, over 350,000 served during the Vietnam War.
Since taking office, Treasurer Garrity has returned 517 military honors to families, including 13 Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars, and one Gold Star. The Treasury’s vault currently holds nearly 500 additional military decorations—ranging from medals and ribbons to buttons and pins—many recovered from abandoned safe deposit boxes.
“One of the best parts of the job isn’t about the money at all,” Garrity said. “It’s moments like today when I can reunite a piece of a Veteran’s story with their family.”
Veterans or family members can search for unclaimed military medals by visiting the Pennsylvania Treasury’s website.
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