July 21, 2017 - Sacramento, CA – The  State Senate voted unanimously on Thursday to adopt Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 55, authored by Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), to commemorate August 7, 2017 as “Purple Heart Day” in the state of California. “Purple Heart Day” honors the brave men and women who have been wounded or killed in battle. SCR 55 was adopted in the Senate with enthusiastic bipartisan support.

“As a veteran of the United States Army, I felt it was important to commemorate the service of not only the soldiers who were wounded or gave their lives in defense of our nation but also, to commemorate the sacrifices made by the families of those soldiers,” said Newman.  “On August 7th , and every day, we honor Purple Heart soldiers and their families who made such sacrifices to preserve our freedoms and protect our national security.”

The Purple Heart award, which traces its origins all the way back to the Revolutionary War, is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of the Armed Forces who, while serving, has been wounded or killed in the defense of our country.

Senator Josh Newman served as an officer in the United States Army with active duty assignments with a nuclear weapons detachment in South Korea and with a conventional artillery battalion in the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. He currently serves as Chair of the Senate Veteran Affairs Committee.

Senator Newman represents the 29th Senate District, which includes cities across Orange, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino Counties.
Source: Senator Josh Newman