Today at last was the day that those killed by Nidal Hasan in the 2009 terrorist attack on Fort Hood received the Purple Heart in a ceremony at the base outside Killeen, Texas.
Victims of this terrorist attack will finally get their day!– #PurpleHeart Ceremony Friday for #FortHood Casualties: http://t.co/ehzGipGwfw
— Military Benefit Association (@MilitaryBenefit) April 10, 2015
Happy to see heroes of #FortHood shooting receive the #PurpleHeart they so rightfully deserve. http://t.co/CMiinJLeLT pic.twitter.com/ZdGqkzsMjX
— Rep. Vicky Hartzler (@RepHartzler) April 10, 2015
The attack, which killed 13 (including a pregnant woman), was long held to be an incident of “workplace violence,” but the National Defense Authorization Act signed by President Obama last December included a measure by Texas Sen. John Cornyn to award the Purple Heart to those killed in Hasan’s shooting rampage. Along with the Purple Heart comes veterans’ medical benefits and higher priority for veterans’ disability compensation.
Representing himself in court in 2013, Hasan told a judge that the shooting was done to protect the lives of members of the Taliban from “members of the United States military about to deploy to Afghanistan.”
Portraits of the victims were on display at today’s ceremony.
We are getting a look at where the #PurpleHeart ceremony will take place here in #FortHood @keyetv pic.twitter.com/X4IUGAmhRC
— Nadia Galindo (@NadiaGalindoTV) April 10, 2015
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ON POST: Pictures of the 13 victims line the field at III Corps HQ for today's special ceremony. #PurpleHeart @kwtx pic.twitter.com/X23EdOdvrq
— Nick Delgado (@Mr_NixNetwork) April 10, 2015
Photographs of Victims of the 2009 Fort Hood Shooting displayed on both sides of podium. #PurpleHeart @NewsChannel25 pic.twitter.com/H9Row2KUNO
— Taylor Alanis (@TaylorAlanisTV) April 10, 2015
Photos of 2009 Fort Hood Shooting victims displayed on other side of podium #PurpleHeart #FortHood @NewsChannel25 pic.twitter.com/9QjnFEVijF
— Taylor Alanis (@TaylorAlanisTV) April 10, 2015
.@chrissadeghi's out at @forthood Don't miss his pics from #PurpleHeart ceremony. #movinghttp://t.co/xmEumkyqbr pic.twitter.com/FRmNJXqvII
— Jackie Vega (@TheJackieVega) April 10, 2015
Juan Velez, father of PFC Francheska Velez, has a moment with his daughter. She was pregnant when she died. #FortHood pic.twitter.com/ZDNigEPYHK
— Chris Sadeghi (@chrissadeghi) April 10, 2015
15 cannon shots are fired to honor the 15 dignitaries in attendance of the #FtHood #PurpleHeart ceremony pic.twitter.com/NLH7wzcZP4
— Ashley Goudeau (@AshleyG_KVUE) April 10, 2015
Retired General Robert Cone to survivors: "You are not a victim. You are still here. Nothing has defeated you. Today is about victory."
— Chris Sadeghi (@chrissadeghi) April 10, 2015
"You are not a victim… You are a victor" Gen. (Ret.) Robert W. Cone. #PurpleHeartCeremony #PurpleHeart @fthood pic.twitter.com/CsmxLeiFZd
— Kevin Quinn (@imkevinquinn) April 10, 2015
Purple Heart recipient Christopher Royal: "We can pick up the pieces knowing we are victors." #FortHood pic.twitter.com/xu64VvHf50
— Chris Sadeghi (@chrissadeghi) April 10, 2015
Families of those killed in action now receiving #PurpleHeart pic.twitter.com/tzPtZiunSI
— Ashley Goudeau (@AshleyG_KVUE) April 10, 2015
"Why did this takes so long?" asks @JohnCornyn, flanked by @tedcruz and other members of TX congressional delegation pic.twitter.com/vQwCVSjzfY
— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) April 10, 2015
Governor Greg Abbott: "Today is a celebration of those that wear the uniform." #FortHood pic.twitter.com/NuH9MNgf9h
— Chris Sadeghi (@chrissadeghi) April 10, 2015
Sen. Ted Cruz was on hand for the ceremony and promised to continue to fight for benefits for the soldiers.
Ted Cruz: "What happened that day wasn't workplace violence. It was radical Islamic terrorism." #FortHood pic.twitter.com/7KKdsJml89
— Chris Sadeghi (@chrissadeghi) April 10, 2015
I will continue to fight until every one of these soldiers receives the benefits they deserve https://t.co/3lDHy89zvV #FortHood #PurpleHeart
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 10, 2015
Enough games. Five years is far too long. #FortHood #PurpleHeart pic.twitter.com/hw2VVCjhTl
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) April 10, 2015
I talked w SECARMY McHugh at today's Ft Hood ceremony & have every confidence we will get Purple Heart Combat Related Special Comp too
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) April 10, 2015
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