The Purple Heart Exhibit

Honoring the Stories, Sacrifice, and Legacy of Coastal Bend Purple Heart Recipients

​

The Purple Heart Exhibit at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History is a permanent military history exhibit dedicated to honoring the men and women of the Coastal Bend who have been awarded the Purple Heart in service to our nation.

​

Most military exhibits tell the story of a war, battle, or campaign. This exhibit tells the story of people. They are our neighbors, family members, veterans, first responders, community leaders, and friends. Each carries a story of service and sacrifice that deserves to be preserved.

​

Through photographs, military service records, personal histories, artifacts, and recorded interviews, the Purple Heart Exhibit gives visitors an opportunity to discover the people behind one of our nation’s oldest and most sacred military decorations. Behind every Purple Heart is more than a medal. There is a story of courage, sacrifice, family, service, and a life forever changed.

​

Help Us Preserve Their Story:

​

The Purple Heart Exhibit is a living exhibit and will continue to grow as additional Coastal Bend Purple Heart recipients and their families share their stories with us.

​

If you are a Purple Heart recipient—or are submitting the story of a family member—we invite you to help us preserve that history.

 

The best way to begin is by completing our Purple Heart Exhibit submission form. You do not need to have everything gathered before contacting us. Start with the information you have, and our team will help guide you through the process.

​

As part of the verification and preservation process, we may ask you to provide:

• Documentation verifying receipt of the Purple Heart, such as a DD Form 214, award citation or orders, casualty notification, military records, newspaper clippings, or other supporting documentation.

• Photographs from military service and life after service that help tell the recipient’s story.

• Basic information about military service, including branch, unit, conflict or era of service, and circumstances surrounding the Purple Heart when known.

• Personal history about the recipient’s life, family, career, community involvement, and continued service after leaving the military.

• Participation in a recorded oral-history interview when possible.

​

Once eligibility has been verified and materials have been collected, recipients may be added to the exhibit as space, research, and exhibit updates allow.

 

The Purple Heart Exhibit is continuously updated, ensuring that additional names and stories can become part of this permanent record of Coastal Bend military history.

​

More Than an Exhibit —

A Permanent Historical Record

Our mission extends beyond displaying these stories inside the museum.

​

Recorded oral histories, photographs, documents, and historical materials collected through the Purple Heart Exhibit are intended to create a lasting archive so these firsthand accounts are available to researchers, families, historians, and future generations.

These stories will be preserved through archival partnerships involving the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, a local university, and the Library of Congress, helping ensure that the experiences of Coastal Bend Purple Heart recipients become part of a historical record extending far beyond the walls of the exhibit.

 

For families, this means something important:

Their story will not disappear when they are gone. Their voice, photographs, service, sacrifice, and legacy can become part of the history our community—and our nation—passes to the next generation.

​

A Partnership Built to Remember

The Purple Heart Exhibit is a partnership between the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History and Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 598. Together, we have created a permanent home where the stories of Coastal Bend Purple Heart recipients can be discovered, documented, preserved, and shared.

 

This exhibit is not simply about how someone was wounded. It is about who they were, who they became, and the legacy they left behind. If you or a member of your family received the Purple Heart and has ties to the Coastal Bend, we want to hear your story. Submit a Purple Heart Recipient Complete the Purple Heart Exhibit submission form to begin the process. Our team will review the information, contact you regarding any documentation needed to verify eligibility, and work with you to help preserve your recipient’s story for generations to come.