MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. (Dec. 13, 2011) - The U.S. Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment erroneously mailed approximately 1,150 Purple Heart ornaments to the families of award recipients who are deceased. The packages were addressed to the fallen Marines and sailors.

In all, more than 9,000 packages, containing a Purple Heart ornament donated by a charitable organization, a letter to the award recipient from the commanding officer and sergeant major, and a flyer with information about the regiment's athletic reconditioning program, were meant to be received by living Marine Corps Post 9/11 Purple Heart recipients. Our intention was to thank them for their service and sacrifices. This included sailors who were awarded the Purple Heart when they were attached to or serving in support of Marine Corps units.

The Wounded Warrior Regiment became aware of the error when family members, who received an ornament addressed to their fallen hero, called the regiment's call center Monday evening.

"There are no words to express how very sorry we are for the hurt such a mistake has caused the families of our fallen warriors. We always strive to honor the sacrifices these Marines, sailors and their families gave to this country," said Col. John L. Mayer, commanding officer of the WWR.

"There is no excuse for why this happened. We accept full responsibility for this error and are moving quickly to reach out to the families we have affected. This initiative was meant to thank combat-wounded Marines and sailors for their service," Mayer said.

The regiment is sending letters of apology to the families of our fallen Marines who were included in this mailing and the commanding officer is personally calling the families who contacted the regiment.

The U.S. Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment provides and facilitates non-medical care to combat and non-combat wounded, ill, and injured Marines, and sailors attached to or in direct support of Marine units and their family members in order to assist them as they return to duty or transition to civilian life. The Regimental Headquarters element, located in Quantico, Va., commands the operations of two Wounded Warrior Battalions located at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Camp Lejeune, N.C., and multiple detachments in locations around the globe.