“Replacement” Purple Heart Presented To New Bedford Family

A replacement Purple Heart has been presented to the family of a fallen New Bedford Marine.

Lance Corporal Michael Ford was killed in Iraq in 2006.  Last week, his father Joseph Ford reported that his son's Purple Heart has been stolen from his New Bedford home. 

Congressman William Keating went to work to secure a replacement.  It was presented to the Ford family on Friday in Keating's New Bedford office.

In accepting the replacement Purple Heart and coin from his son's unit, Michael's dad, Joseph Ford remembered his son's patriotism, and his willingness to serve....

Ford says when the story broke about the stolen Purple Heart, he began to receive phone calls and e-mails from the Marines his son served with. 

He said he was overwhelmed by the response.