Today, Fallen Patriots honors more than 1.8 million combat-wounded Purple Heart recipients. Purple Heart Medals are awarded to those wounded or killed while serving in the United States Armed Forces and those who display bravery. Fallen Patriots is dedicated to serving the families of service members who lost their life in the line of duty.
Danny Irizarry’s dad, Army Staff Sergeant Henry Irizarry, was killed in Iraq when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee. For making the ultimate sacrifice, Army Staff Sergeant Henry Irizarry was awarded the Purple Heart. Danny’s father never settled for excuses and after his father’s death Danny used that mentality to get through a very difficult time.
With the help of Fallen Patriots, Danny was able to attend his dream school, the University of New Haven. He graduated with a degree in criminal justice and just two weeks later entered the New York Police Department’s Police Academy. Danny knows his father would have had “the utmost respect for his current profession because he would have understood the gravity of being a police officer in the Bronx.”
It's stories like Danny’s that motivate us to continue our mission to provide college scholarships to military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty.