FORT PIERCE — Combat-wounded veterans and Gold Star families from across the country will gather this month for a special tribute, where 58 recipients of the Purple Heart medal will receive hand-carved, personalized canes at no cost.
The Purple Heart Cane Project’s annual ceremony is set for Saturday, Jan. 17, at 1 p.m. at the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, located at 3300 N. Highway A1A. The event, which runs until about 3 p.m., is open to the public free of charge and honors those injured in battle or the families of those killed.
This year’s keynote speaker is David Bellavia, a Medal of Honor recipient known for his actions during the Second Battle of Fallujah in Iraq. Retired Master Chief Rick Kaiser, a former SEAL Team 6 member and executive director of the museum, will also address the crowd.
“We are delighted to welcome our Nation’s Purple Heart recipients and our community to this perennial favorite — the Purple Heart Cane Ceremony,” said Lloyd Lasenby, the project’s president. “There’s just nothing else like it.”
The recipients hail from 15 states, including local heroes from Florida. Each cane is individually crafted by volunteers, featuring engravings of the veteran’s name, rank, branch of service, location of wounding and all military awards earned.
The Purple Heart medal traces its roots to George Washington, who created it in 1782 to recognize soldiers for valor in combat. It was revived during World War II for wounds received in action and applied retroactively to World War I veterans.
Founded in 2020 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, the Purple Heart Cane Project operates entirely on volunteer efforts with no paid staff. The group holds weekly carving sessions Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Spanish Lakes Fairways in Fort Pierce, where members of the Indian River Woodcarvers Club contribute their skills.
The ceremony has become a tradition at the museum, which preserves the history of Navy Underwater Demolition Teams and SEALs. Past events have drawn hundreds, blending solemn recognition with community support.
For more information, visit www.purpleheartcaneproject.org or contact Lloyd Lasenby at (772) 370-6875 or Lloyd@purpleheartcaneproject.org. The project also maintains a Facebook group for updates.