The Florida chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) is hosting an event on August 3rd to commemorate Purple Heart Day at the historic Fort Harrison in downtown Clearwater. The event begins with a reception at 5pm, followed by a banquet at 5:30pm. This special occasion is organized to honor U.S. military personnel and veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart Medal.
Established by George Washington in 1782 as the Badge of Military Merit, the Purple Heart Medal is awarded to U.S. military personnel wounded or killed in action. It remains the oldest military award still presented to service members. The August 3rd event will include a presentation by the MacDill Air Force Color Guard, known for its impressive close-order presentation drilling.
The banquet also aims to raise awareness about the serious issue of military suicides. Several speakers will discuss this topic, offering hope and information on available support networks. The international headquarters of CCHR filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Veterans Health Administration in July 2021. The VHA's response revealed that from 2015 to 2019, $2.4 billion was spent on psychotropic drugs for 4.2 million veterans, with 1.75 million of them prescribed antidepressants.
Diane Stein, President of the Florida chapter of CCHR, criticized the reliance on drugs and electroshock treatments for veterans, citing the term 'treatment-resistant depression' as misleading. According to Stein, the focus should be on finding better solutions rather than enforcing potentially harmful treatments.
