Guardians of the Purple Heart

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Guardians of the Purple Heart We intend to help a Veteran each year, focusing on different generations as each year passes.

Guardians of the Purple Heart is a 501c3 nonprofit that specializes in assisting Connecticut combat wounded veterans with items or services not being met or offered by other organizations, like the VA. Our Cause
The Guardians of the Purple Heart is made of a group of Veterans, family members, and spouses of Veterans who want to make a difference for Combat Wounded Veterans in the State of Connecticut. We run a Motorcycle Run every year as our biggest event to honor a Purple Heart recipient. We plan on running multiple other events throughout the year to support the goals of the organization and raise awareness for Combat Wounded Veterans, Veteran Su***de, and connecting Veterans with services provided by other organizations. Our Purpose
To have successful fundraisers attended by supporters of our country’s Veterans to commemorate those wounded in combat while serving our country. We are raising money through sponsors, individual donations, and other events held throughout the year. The main event is the Purple Heart Poker Run, a motorcycle run in which a specific Recipient is chosen by the Board and honored on this day. All of this is to recognize and celebrate those who have served our country, honoring specifically those who have faced death and been wounded in its defense. Our Impact
Every year we want to have a positive impact on a Combat Wounded Veteran who is from Connecticut, as we seek to focus on helping a local individual. Our plan with the money we raise is to assist our recipient with basic needs or some essential need that other organizations are unable to provide. We will not only donate monetarily but reach out to local businesses in our community who can donate their time and services to help fulfill a complete package of necessities for our recipient. We intend to make sure that all Connecticut Purple Heart Recipients feel they have a home in our state, a stable living environment, and a family within our organization. Our Values:
 Service
 Selflessness
 Commitment
 Loyalty
 Respect
 Honor
 Courage

MEET A GUARDIAN MONDAY! Today, we’re introducing Kenzie!!Kenzie is from Groton and has been helping behind the scenes si...
10/12/2026

MEET A GUARDIAN MONDAY!

Today, we’re introducing Kenzie!!

Kenzie is from Groton and has been helping behind the scenes since 2018 before officially becoming a Guardian last year! She helps with media coverage, outreach, and marketing communications, making sure the Guardians’ mission and the people we support get the attention they deserve.

Growing up in a military town, Kenzie has always been surrounded by military personnel. With her brother serving as a combat medic in the Army, giving back to the military community has always been close to her heart. When she met Doug in a class she was assisting with, he shared the Guardians’ mission and asked if she could help with an event. For Kenzie, it was a no-brainer!

Kenzies favorite part about the Guardians is the family we’ve created and the community of people who all share the same mission and passion for giving back. There’s something special about bringing people together to make a difference!

Her motto is, “I can probably make that myself.” A useful skill? Absolutely. A problem? Also absolutely. We have a feeling her DIY projects have a way of turning into much bigger projects than originally planned!

We’re grateful to have Kenzie as part of the Guardians family and appreciate everything she does to help spread our mission and support our combat-wounded veterans!

Stay tuned for next week’s Meet a Guardian Monday!

THE DEBATE IS ON. When it comes to staying in touch, which side are you on?TEAM TEXTINGORTEAM PHONE CALLS Are you sendin...
10/08/2026

THE DEBATE IS ON.

When it comes to staying in touch, which side are you on?

TEAM TEXTING
OR
TEAM PHONE CALLS

Are you sending a “hey, what’s up?” text… or are you actually calling someone like it’s 2005? 😂

We’re back debating with CT Modified so let us know!

👇 Drop your answer in the comments:
📱 Texting
📞 Phone calls

And tell us WHY — we want to hear your arguments! 👀🔥

This has been becoming a series! Let us know what you think we should debate next🤔

Connecticu

MEET A GUARDIAN MONDAY! Today, we’re introducing Mike, one of the Guardians’ resident tech gurus! Mike is from Ledyard a...
10/05/2026

MEET A GUARDIAN MONDAY!

Today, we’re introducing Mike, one of the Guardians’ resident tech gurus!

Mike is from Ledyard and has been a Guardian since 2018. As our go-to tech guy, he handles devices, the website, the online shop, technical support, and pretty much anything else that involves technology.

He joined the Guardians after they needed someone with a tech background, and having a connection with Doug helped bring him into the family.

What Mike enjoys most about being a Guardian is meeting people who share the same passion for helping and supporting those in need.

And now for the important stuff…

Mike may be a big, intimidating guy with what he describes as a “dick face” until you get to know him, but once you do, you’ll find out that he’s actually a pretty fun guy to hang with!

When he’s not keeping the Guardians’ technology running, Mike is a total 3D-printing geek with six printers and counting!

We’re lucky to have Mike’s skills, humor, and dedication on our team!

The typical Connecticut debate… Boston or New York. Red Sox or Yankees. With the Wild Card series starting tonight we ne...
09/29/2026

The typical Connecticut debate… Boston or New York. Red Sox or Yankees.

With the Wild Card series starting tonight we need your opinion! Some of us from the Guardians of the Purple Heart and CT Modified have been pretty divided as to who is going to take the game and then the Series moving onto the ALDS.

Who’s going to advance? Who’s going home just at the beginning of October Baseball? Let us know!

MEET A GUARDIAN MONDAY!Jamie grew up in Preston but now calls Groton home. Although she has only been a member since Apr...
09/28/2026

MEET A GUARDIAN MONDAY!

Jamie grew up in Preston but now calls Groton home. Although she has only been a member since April of this year, she came in hot, ready to work and willing to help out whenever and however she can!

Jamie decided to get involved after seeing a post on Facebook. With several family members who have served or are currently serving in the military, giving back to those who have dedicated themselves to protecting our country is something that is extremely important to her.

Her favorite part about being a member of our team? “We’re a fun little dysfunctional family!” Jamie loves that we all work hard, support one another, and are always willing to jump in and help however we can.

Outside of the Guardians, Jamie is a proud mom of 4 children and a grandmother of 2! She loves visiting Texas, where some of her family lives, and hopes to make the move down there herself someday!

We’re so happy to have Jamie as part of our Guardians family!

Help us give Jamie a warm welcome!

MEET A GUARDIAN MONDAY!Rebecca is a Waterford native and one of the youngest members of the Guardians of the Purple Hear...
09/21/2026

MEET A GUARDIAN MONDAY!

Rebecca is a Waterford native and one of the youngest members of the Guardians of the Purple Heart! When Rebecca started as a newbie she was just taking some pictures for social media, Now she runs the Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok! (With help from everyone else of course) Also taking the notes for our monthly meetings as Secretary and became Vice President earlier this year.

She first learned about the Guardians in 2022 through Doug, but officially became a member in March 2024. It all started when Doug came into where she was working at the time and told her about the Honor Ink Tattoo Event. She decided to get a tattoo, Doug came back and gave her a Guardians shirt, and talked more about what the organization does. What started with a tattoo and a conversation quickly turned into something much bigger.

When she first joined, she admits she was nervous. With no military background and being the youngest member of the group, she wasn’t quite sure where she would fit in. It didn’t take long for those nerves to disappear. She was welcomed with open arms and quickly discovered that the Guardians aren’t just an organization—they’re a family. Her favorite part of being a Guardian is exactly that: The people, the support, and the feeling of being part of something bigger than herself are what keep her passionate about the mission.

At just 23 years old, don’t expect her to be out partying until after midnight. She’s much more likely to be at home with her dog, Jax, watching a show and happily asleep before 10 PM.

Follow along each Monday as we continue introducing you to the people behind the Guardians of the Purple Heart!

Don’t forget to tune in tomorrow for round two of MEET A GUARDIAN MONDAY!!Yes this is a weekly thing we have a different...
09/21/2026

Don’t forget to tune in tomorrow for round two of MEET A GUARDIAN MONDAY!!

Yes this is a weekly thing we have a different member of our team eager to introduce themselves every week so stay tuned and let us know if you seen some familiar faces!

See you tomorrow!!

🚨NEW SERIES ALERT 🚨 MEET A GUARDIAN MONDAY!Doug isn’t just a Connecticut native — he’s a force of nature who’s turned Wa...
09/14/2026

🚨NEW SERIES ALERT 🚨

MEET A GUARDIAN MONDAY!

Doug isn’t just a Connecticut native — he’s a force of nature who’s turned Waterford into the launchpad for a decade of impact. As President of Guardians of the Purple Heart for the last 10 years, he’s built this organization from the ground up with grit, heart, and a mission that refuses to quit. A veteran himself, Doug knows exactly what it feels like to battle the VA and fight for a better life. Instead of letting those challenges define him, he stepped up, locked in, and committed to creating real change for others walking the same path.

Ask Doug what fires him up about being a Guardian and you’ll get more than one answer — because his passion hits on every level. He lives for that moment when someone’s stress disappears after the organization solves a problem they thought was impossible. That transformation? That relief? That’s what keeps him charging forward. And right beside that is his pride in the insanely talented team he works with. The people, the mission, the wins — that combination is the fuel behind everything he does.

But let’s be real: Doug is not your average leader. Anyone who knows him knows he’s built different. And here’s the twist most people don’t see — Doug is a massive, unapologetic tech nerd. He loves it. He owns it. He thrives in it. Whether he’s building his own gaming PC, cracking open a flat‑screen to replace the motherboard, or remotely running his 3D printers from eight states away, Doug is always pushing tech to work for him, not against him. If it lights up, boots up, or can be programmed, he’s already elbows‑deep in it.

He wears the “nerd” badge like armor — proudly, loudly, and with zero hesitation. And trust us… he’s already looking ahead to whatever innovation drops next.

Something new is coming Monday… 👀Let’s just say… you might want to meet us at our social media pages. 😉Can you guess wha...
09/12/2026

Something new is coming Monday… 👀

Let’s just say… you might want to meet us at our social media pages. 😉

Can you guess what we’re planning?👇Be sure you’re following us on Instagram & Facebook so you don’t miss it! 💜🛡️

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Niantic, CT

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