News article

Below is the article published on Tampa Bay News 10 website about Our Precious Gift.

A website aimed at the Purple Heart

By: Kathryn Bursch

Brandon, Florida – From the battle fields of World War II, to the jungles of Vietnam, to the deserts of Iraq, over the years American servicemen and women have made untold sacrifices. But now a local woman is working to have some of those sacrifices told.

Melissa Campos has created a website called Our Precious Gift to register the names of Purple Heart recipients and to tell their stories. “These stories are out there and if we don’t get them out there, we lose them. And it’s sad our children are growing up not knowing the sacrifices these men and women made,” said Campos.

At VFW Post 8108 in Riverview, it’s fish-fry night. And no doubt the walls here have heard plenty of war stories. But veterans here also think it’s important for some of the stories to make it outside the walls and onto the web.

“This country was built on the backs of the past wars,” said Leonard Paskoski, an army veteran. “Most kids are in the now generation and they don’t really know what happened to get them there.”

Campos just started her website in early January and already has over 200 people registered. One name, one story at a time; she’s trying to save history and honor those who made it. “Years from now our children and grandchildren will have a place to go and remember what these people gave to us.”

For more information on the Purple Heart website, click on the following link: http://www.ourpreciousgift.com/

Kathryn Bursch, Tampa Bay’s 10 News