State Rep. George Darany (D-Dearborn) testifies in favor of House Concurrent Resolution 29 before the House Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security in Lansing Oct. 11. The resolution urges the Department of Defense to apply uniform standards for awarding the Purple Heart to ensure appropriate acknowledgement of military personnel who sustain traumatic brain injuries.
LANSING — State Rep. George Darany’s House resolution to have the U.S. Department of Defense award Purple Hearts to military personnel suffering traumatic brain injuries passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support Oct. 25.
For many years, the eligibility requirement for the Purple Heart has been interpreted to pertain to injuries that are mainly visible in nature, Darany (D-Dearborn) said. However, the weapons found on today’s battlefields are designed to cause life-altering damage and traumatic brain injuries are becoming more and more common. Although the Army has recently set new guidelines for awarding Purple Hearts, and other branches have been examining their own practices, the application of these standards is still uneven, Darany said.
“Despite the type of injury, every veteran who has been wounded in combat has displayed a heroic amount of devotion to defend our country,” said Darany, who is a member of the House Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Committee. “Without a doubt, these brave men and women are deserving of recognition for their sacrifices.
“With Veterans Day right around the corner, many of us will pause to remember and thank our veterans for their service. I am thankful to my legislative colleagues for supporting this resolution and it is my hope that our brave military members coping with these types of injuries will receive the respect and admiration they deserve by receiving this recognition.”