For his Eagle Scout Project, Roberto Cintron is identifying service members eligible for the Purple Heart Award
When it came time for Palmyra High School senior Roberto Cintron to choose his Eagle Scout project, he knew he wanted to find a way to work with military veterans and benefit the Burlington County community.
As of this past August, Cintron, with the help of his mentor, Bill Isard, and a group of veterans at the Burlington County American Legion, is actively seeking military veterans in the county who are eligible for the Purple Heart Medal, a military decoration given to those wounded by the enemy while serving.
“I want to help as many veterans as I can,” Cintron, who is in the recruitment phase of his eight-step initiative, said. And doing so with the particular set of obstacles he faces is no easy feat.
Because Cintron is a minor, he must depend on his adult mentors to communicate with the veterans who see the fliers he and his team posted all over the county. Because many veterans, especially those who fought in Vietnam, don’t want to attract attention to their actions during combat, compiling a list of names is a challenge.
After returning home, Vietnam vets were met with an onslaught of anti-military sentiment from anti-war protesters, who misdirected their frustration with the United States’ involvement in Vietnam toward service members, who were often drafted without choice and devastated by the horrors they witnessed. This created a culture of silence among Vietnam vets, who felt unable to share their experiences without being antagonized or retaliated against.
The lengthy application process is also a deterrent that can bring veterans back to traumatic experiences. Applicants must prepare and submit two eyewitness statements, medical documentation of their combat injury, deployment orders, a combat action badge. if possible, an officer record brief and a personal narrative.
“Every time I meet with my team of veterans, they always have a story about what they went through, most of them having served in Vietnam,” Cintron shared. “They really appreciate this project, and it means more to them knowing that a young person is taking an interest in their experience.”
Because Vietnam vets affected by Agent Orange were not technically injured by the enemy and therefore don’t qualify for the Purple Heart, Cintron is also assisting those eligible for the Order of the Silver Rose Award. The nonprofit organization honors chemically-wounded service members and educates the public about the extent of Agent Orange use by the United States and its effects on its own military.
So far, Cintron has connected with a Korean War veteran and two Vietnam veterans interested in getting their Purple Hearts. They are preparing their testimonies and will eventually submit the paperwork to the appropriate branches.
Isard, who has been an institution representative for Mahalala district of the Garden State Council, BSA, for 50 years, was immediately compelled to help bring Cintron’s project to fruition.
To veterans who may feel apprehensive about coming forward, Isard says they should feel empowered to get what they’re due.
“It’s what they deserve to get, they’re entitled to it,” he added.
If you or someone you know deserves recognition for their sacrifices during a war or conflict, please contact C. Michael at (609) 744–5684 or [email protected]; Bill at (856) 234–6930 or [email protected]; or Bill at (856) 829–3834 or [email protected].
