Military Order of the Purple Heart — MOPH

MOPH is the most exclusive door in this directory: its active membership is composed exclusively of living Purple Heart recipients — men and women wounded in combat. Its mission, in its own words, is to provide "service to all veterans and their families." One fact a family must have before knocking: MOPH has discontinued its service program and no longer files VA claims — it now points veterans to the VFW, The American Legion, DAV, and county and state service officers.

Who it serves

Active membership is restricted by the Order’s own rule: “All persons of good moral character who are awarded the Purple Heart Medal by the Government of the United States AND are Active Duty or have Honorable or General discharge are eligible for active membership.” MOPH is explicit that there are no posthumous memberships — only living Purple Heart recipients can join.

Families have two doors of their own. Associate Membership in MOPH itself is open to a parent, spouse, sibling, or lineal or adopted descendant (child, grandchild, or great-grandchild) of a living or deceased Purple Heart recipient, with evidence of the award and the relationship. The MOPH Auxiliary is open to a parent, grandparent, spouse, widow, widower, sibling, child, or grandchild of a combat veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart.

What it does

• Advocacy and legislative work — a National Legislative Program and Veterans Advocacy Program pressing the interests of combat-wounded veterans.
• A presence where veterans are served — the VA Voluntary Services (VAVS) Program and a Homeless Veteran Program.
• Honors and remembrance — the Purple Heart Trail, the POW/MIA Program, Americanism, and ROTC/JROTC and youth awards.
• Scholarships — a Scholarship Program available exclusively to MOPH members (a stated exception to its all-veterans mission).
• Suicide awareness and a Women’s Program, and software-developer training offered free to members.

How a family uses it

• Start at purpleheart.org — membership office: 703-642-5360.
• For a VA claim, do not start here. MOPH’s own FAQ states the service program is discontinued and directs veterans to the VFW, The American Legion, DAV, or their local county or state service officer (see The Government Doors).
• If your veteran is a Purple Heart recipient, this is his fraternity — and if you are his parent, spouse, sibling, child, or grandchild, the Auxiliary and Associate membership are the family’s place in it.

Facts on this page are drawn from MOPH's own published materials (purpleheart.org, including its FAQ and membership pages), checked October 2026. Membership and program rules change; the organization's own site governs. Corrections: care@bowmanwebservices.com.