Colorado Commends Purple Heart Recipients

DENVER - Today, Governor Jared Polis honored our nation’s Purple Heart recipients on National Purple Heart Day. 

“Purple Heart recipients put their lives on the line to protect our country, their fellow Americans and our freedoms. I’m proud that many Purple Heart recipients call Colorado home. Our state is indebted to their unwavering commitment to protect our state and our nation,” said Governor Polis. 

Governor Polis is a strong advocate and supporter of Colorado’s military members and their families, including Purple Heart recipients. In May, Governor Polis was proud to sign legislation HB21-1116 that gives Colorado residents who are purple heart recipients free entry to any of Colorado’s 42 state parks or recreation areas. 

Prior to serving as Governor, Gov. Polis founded Patriot Bootcamp, — a nonprofit to help returning veterans start their own businesses. This year, Governor Polis also signed SB21-032 in June to establish a mobile veterans-support unit grant program to provide grant funding to veteran-owned-and-focused organizations that work to support homeless veterans and veterans in need of transportation and other services. Also in June, Gov. Polis signed SB21-129 which sets up a new veteran suicide prevention pilot program that will offer veterans free, confidential, and effective behavioral health services and he signed HB21-1065 which gives private employers the ability to give preference to a veteran during the hiring process. 

The Purple Heart is a military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed as a result of enemy action.