Kennedy Space Center awarded a "Purple Heart" for support of veterans

Rachael Joy

Florida Today

On Thursday, Kennedy Space Center was the first NASA facility in the country to be named a "Purple Heart Entity" in a ceremony held at the KSC Training Auditorium.

“Being the first Purple Heart space center, it’s such an honor,” KSC Associate Director Kelvin Manning said before a packed auditorium that included 20 Purple Heart winners in the audience.

KSC was given the honor by the Military Order of the Purple Heart, a congressionally chartered veterans group comprised solely of men and women who are combat wounded veterans.

Army veteran Chris Vedvick, who did seven tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, was injured with three handgrenades on his first deployment, was the keynote speaker. A ceremony was held at Kennedy Space Center Thursday naming KSC a Purple Heart Entity in a proclamation by the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

The Purple Heart is one of the oldest and most recognized American military medals, awarded to service members who were killed or wounded by enemy action. The Military Order of the Purple Heart awards "Purple Heart status" to organizations that demonstrate support for veterans.

There are currently more than 300 veterans employed by NASA at KSC.

“Usually when veterans get out they want to be away from any kind of government service, “ explained Christopher Vedvick, Commander, Department of Florida Military Order of the Purple Heart. “Here at Kennedy they’ve embraced that...they have their own group of veterans who really make up the fabric of what we felt to be Kennedy Space Center."

Kennedy is being recognized as a Purple Heart Entity for the support of veterans though employment opportunities and services provided to veterans by the center’s veterans employee resource group.

“The common thread is sacrifice,” Vedvick continued “and paying homage to those who have sacrificed so much in the past and there are individuals who are still sacrificing today, maybe not blood on the battlefield but the sacrifice of engaging and serving their country continually.”

Derrick Matthews ( right) Purple Heart recipient and a KSC PAO, talks with Kelvin Manning, Associate Director of KSC. A ceremony was held at Kennedy Space Center Thursday naming KSC a Purple Heart Entity in a proclamation by the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

NASA Public Affairs Officer Derrick Matthews served in the Army before being hired at Kennedy Space Center. He served in Iraq and was awarded a Purple Heart for the injuries he sustained after driving over a roadside bomb.

“I’ve worked at other federal agencies and KSC is the only agency that has a veterans ERG group, it's called an employee resources group that is really active and impactful,”Matthews said.

Matthews says he sees a link between the personal qualities critical to executing a military mission and a NASA space mission.

“It’s the all teamwork and camaraderie and being able to work with diverse backgrounds and personalities.”

NASA has a long history employing veterans and owes many space milestones to them. The most visible veterans at NASA are, of course, many of its astronauts going back to the original Mercury 7 who were all military test pilots.

Currently there are more than 300 veteran civil servants at Kennedy, supporting a variety of NASA’s missions. This group includes Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, Deputy Director Janet Petro and Associate Director Kelvin Manning.

“Veterans will continue to play a vital role in securing the legacy of America’s space program, Manning said.

“We would not be successful without our veteran contributions. Service goes beyond the uniform. This Veterans Day we honor the men and women who have worn the uniform and continue to serve our country.”

Contact Joy at 321-408-0945 and rjoy@floridatoday.com Follow her on Twitter @Rachael_Joy.