A Legacy Etched in Stone: Purple Heart Veterans Honored on the Space Coast
On Sunday, August 9, 2026, people from across the Space Coast came together for the 10th Annual Purple Heart Recognition Day. The Military Order of the Purple Heart, Space Coast Chapter 453 from Melbourne, Florida, hosted the event to honor combat-wounded veterans. One of the highlights was dedicating commemorative bricks at the Merritt Island Veterans Center Museum, making sure these veterans’ sacrifices are remembered as part of our community’s history.
A Morning of Remembrance and Community Healing
The event began with an opening speech from Chapter Commander Keith VanBuren. The City of Cocoa Color Guard presented the colors, and everyone joined in the Pledge of Allegiance. This year’s ceremony also included a special tribute to Marine LCpl Carl W. Miller.
A touching part of the ceremony was when Karmel Bowers presented Quilts of Valor for Group 50306. The Quilts of Valor Foundation has given over 351,000 quilts to American veterans. Each quilt given at the event was made with three meaningful layers:
The Top Layer: Represents the community of many individual quilters through its diverse shapes and fabrics.
The Batting: Represents the warmth, comfort, peace, and healing offered to the recipient.
The Backing: Represents the strength that supports the layers, mirroring the strength of the recipient, their family, and a grateful nation.
The beautiful event was heavily supported by local community leaders and organizations, including Shay Rowe of Mercedes of Melbourne, the GoodDeedsFoundation representing the Military Officers Association, Joel Etherton (President SAR), and Ben Bydalek of the Vietnam War Exhibit.
Honoring the 2026 Purple Heart Recipients
Ten combat-wounded veterans were honored for their service, representing different branches of the military and many years of conflict. Senator Debbie Mayfield from District 19 attended and gave each veteran a certificate of recognition. We at Queen Media are especially proud that our founder and owner, Sgt. Cody Queen, was one of the heroes honored this year.
Here are the stories of the 2026 honorees:
Sgt. Cody Queen (Army) – OIF/OEF: A Combat Engineer deployed to Afghanistan, Sgt. Queen and his team were tasked with perilous route clearance operations, locating and neutralizing IEDs along routes used by U.S. forces. In May 2012, his route clearance team was struck by a devastating 300-pound IED. Surviving a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), he was medically evacuated. Today, he proudly owns his media company, Queen Media, and resides in Brevard County with his wife, Stormie Queen, and their children, Colton, Grace, Payton, and Corbin.
Pvt. Erwin Hayward (Army) – Vietnam War: A combat infantryman with the 25th Infantry Division, Hayward was remarkably awarded four Purple Hearts for injuries sustained in combat. During a "Search & Destroy" mission, he survived a ricochet bullet to his forehead. A week later in the Bo Bo Woods, his Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) was destroyed by a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG). He earned his third Purple Heart when an enemy command detonated explosive went off near his M-60 machine gun, driving shrapnel into his arm and chest, and his fourth for a bullet wound to his left leg. He now resides in Port St. Lucie, FL.
LCpl Joseph W. Holly (USMC) – OIF/OEF: Enlisting after the September 11th attacks, Holly deployed to Iraq and was severely injured on July 19, 2003, when a powerful IED completely destroyed his vehicle south of Baghdad. After suffering a shattered left leg, broken back, and a traumatic brain injury, he returned to his unit in early 2004, only to survive another attack during a mission in Syria that severely reinjured his back and arm. He currently lives in Satellite Beach and works as an Office Manager in Viera.
Tech. Sgt. Earl R. Fugleberg (Army) – WWII & Korean War: After serving as a Cavalry Trooper in Germany post-WWII, Fugleberg was recalled to active duty for the Korean War. On January 16, 1951, he sustained severe injuries from an enemy mortar explosion during a massive offensive. He later moved to Florida to enjoy retirement and passed away in peace at the age of 97, leaving behind a legacy honored by his family today.
E-5 Sargent John Juliano (Army) – Vietnam War: Assigned to the 4th Infantry Division, Juliano was wounded during a fierce ambush on Friday, February 13, 1967, in the Battle of John, taking severe shrapnel to his stomach that required the removal of a section of his large intestine. Following his military service, he enjoyed a 20-year career with Amoco Oil and is heavily involved in producing television sports programs.
Specialist Willie L. Stephenson Jr. (Army) – Somalia: Serving with the 24th Transportation Company during "Operation Hope" in Mogadishu, Stephenson was injured when his unit's compound was attacked in the dark. He sustained head trauma and a gash on the left side of his head requiring stitches. He continues to serve his community today as a Sergeant with the Cocoa Police Department in his 18th year.
SgtM Mark R. Duwel (Army) – OIF/OEF: A highly decorated Special Forces operator with a 38-year military career, Duwel was injured in combat twice. On October 7, 2004, he survived a massive explosion from an IED while operating in a high-threat area outside Baghdad, Iraq, sustaining a TBI and blown eardrums. Despite his injuries, he continued his service and now volunteers full-time at the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Ft. Pierce.
Spec-5 Crew Chief Thomas M. Feigel (Army) – Vietnam War: Serving with the 336th Assault Helicopter Company, Feigel was wounded in action on March 22, 1970, in the Mekong Delta. While taking heavy fire during a combat insertion, he was hit in the back by a projectile with the force of a baseball bat. Later in life, he became the Executive Producer of the documentary Slick Super: Life and death in a Huey in Vietnam.
Sgt. James E-7 Huckabee (Army) – WWII & Korean War: After returning to duty for the Korean War, Huckabee sustained severe shrapnel wounds to his right leg from a mortar shell on July 27, 1950. Astonishingly, after 60 weeks of medical attention, he returned to active duty to serve out his long military career. He was represented at the ceremony by Donn Weaver.
Cpl Basil (Tony) Hodge (USMC) – Vietnam War: Born in the Seychelles, Hodge became an infantry unit interpreter in Vietnam. He earned two Purple Hearts. The second, received on January 25, 1968—just 5 days before the TET Offensive and 9 days before he was due to rotate home—was from a bullet that entered his right side, severed his spine, and exited his left side, leaving him paralyzed and in a wheelchair.
The Lasting Symbol of the Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is the oldest military award still given to American service members. It began in 1782, when President George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit to honor "not only instances of unusual gallantry in battle but also extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way." Today, the heart-shaped medal shows Washington’s profile and is given to those who have been wounded defending our country.
The bricks placed at the Merritt Island Veterans Memorial Center are a lasting way for the community to say thank you. They make sure the names of these local heroes, and the sacrifices they made for American freedom, will always be remembered by future generations on the Space Coast.
