Charleston, West Virginia; December 20th, 2025
In the quiet aftermath of violence, when the noise fades and the attention moves on, the responsibility to remember falls to those willing to act. This week, Governor Patrick Morrisey stepped into that space on behalf of West Virginia’s fallen and wounded.
According to an official release from the WV Office of the Governor, Governor Morrisey has formally requested that Purple Hearts be awarded to members of the West Virginia National Guard who were killed and injured during a recent attack in Washington, D.C. The request seeks federal recognition for Guard members who suffered harm while serving in uniform, carrying out duties tied to national security and public service.
The Purple Heart, among the nation’s oldest military decorations, is awarded to service members wounded or killed as a result of hostile action. Governor Morrisey’s request underscores the administration’s position that the Guard members affected by the attack meet that standard and deserve recognition equal to that afforded to other wounded warriors.
In his communication, the Governor emphasized that the service of National Guard members does not end at state lines. When deployed or assigned to duties in the nation’s capital, they serve under the same risks faced by active-duty forces, often in complex and unpredictable environments. The Governor’s request reflects a broader principle: that sacrifice does not diminish because it occurs outside a traditional battlefield.
The Governor’s office noted that the Guard members involved were serving in an official capacity at the time of the attack, placing them in harm’s way through no action of their own. For those killed, the request seeks posthumous recognition; for those injured, it seeks acknowledgment not only of physical wounds, but of the enduring cost carried by service members long after an incident fades from headlines.
Beyond the formal request itself, the action carries symbolic weight for Guard families across West Virginia. The National Guard occupies a unique role in American life, composed of neighbors, coworkers, parents, and volunteers who balance civilian careers with military obligations. When harm comes to them, it reverberates through local communities as much as it does through military channels.
Governor Morrisey’s request also highlights the evolving nature of modern service. Increasingly, threats to service members arise not only in overseas combat zones but in domestic assignments tied to security, support, and public order. The Governor’s action implicitly acknowledges that the risks faced by Guard members in such roles are real, consequential, and deserving of full recognition.
The request now moves into the federal review process, where eligibility determinations and award decisions are made according to Department of Defense criteria. While that process unfolds, the Governor’s office stated that West Virginia remains committed to supporting the affected Guard members and their families, both in seeking recognition and in addressing ongoing needs related to recovery and remembrance.
In moments like these, official words matter less than sustained action. By formally requesting Purple Hearts, the Governor placed the weight of the state behind its Guard members, signaling that their sacrifice will not be overlooked, minimized, or forgotten.
For West Virginia, the request is not merely administrative. It is a declaration that service, once given, is owed honor in return.
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Sources
- WV OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR – Official Press Release:
“Governor Morrisey Requests Purple Hearts for Guard Members Killed, Injured in D.C. Attack”
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