Department of Florida Afghanistan

Chapter 758 of The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) hosted the Department of Florida Afghanistan/Iraq Memorial Portrait Mural at the North Florida Fair in Tallahassee, Florida during the period November 6-15, 2009. The Mural beared the engraved names and portraits of the 242 Floridians who died in combat while serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. This was a dramatic remembrance honoring those who made the supreme sacrifice during Operation Iraqi freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Since the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, nearly 5,000 American service members have died fighting the Global War on Terror, now the “Overseas Contingency Operation.” Accompanying the portraits are tributes to those American service members who served and died during War World II, Korean War and Vietnam, shown below.

We would like to thank North Florida Fairgrounds Manager Mark Harvey and his Staff for donating a booth in building 3 for our Afghanistan/Iraq Memorial Portrait Mural Display. We appreciate the gifts of the following sponsors Walmart Supercenter Manager Greg Coggins, Peoples First Community Bank, Perimeter Bank of Tallahassee, Flooring America and Four Seasons Designs, Etc. We would also like to thank our Patriots Arnold Gruning, C.T. Farris, Cleveland Thomas, Dennis Foggy, Jim Holland, Jose Alicea, Pace Allen and Washington Sanchez for giving their time to monitor the Display. A special thanks goes to Dennis Foggy for purchasing 1,000 lapel flag pins which was given to visitors at the Display.

Patriot C. T. Farris observes visitors on Open Day at the War World II, Korean War and Vietnam
panels with the Afghanistan/Iraq Memorial Portrait Mural Portrait Mural.

Retired teacher Katherine Clark of Quincy, FL reads the Afghanistan/Iraqplaque while her Son's Friend Beth Padgett
points to the picture of her Nephew Fallen Hero, Sgt.Timothy Padgett of the Defuniak Springs, FL.
Ms. Clark's Son Allen Clark looks on.




Patriot C. T. Farris discusses a fallen hero with a visitor.	C. T. Farris checks out the mural of the Vietnam Memorial.	MOPH Ladies' Auxiliary member Gloria Sanchez helps visitors with hand out information.	Patriot Dennis Foggy stands by the Afghanistan/Iraq Mural and pictures of the Purple Heart medal and Purple Heart stamp he framed.	Patriot Arnold Gruning gives a visitor an America Flag lapel pin.


Many visitors stopped to view the War Murals.	Patriot Arnold Gruning discusses a Fallen Hero portrait with a visiting family.	Some visitors just had to touch the picture of a known Fallen Hero.	Florida Department Commander Jim Holland and Mural Host Chapter 758 Commander Washington Sanchez share stories at the Vietnam Mural.	Florida Department Commander Jim Holland observes his family viewing the War Mural.