HAMMOND — In a historic milestone for Louisiana healthcare and the state’s veteran community, North Oaks Health has become the first hospital in Louisiana to be designated a Purple Heart Hospital by the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
The designation was formally presented July 1 during a ceremony at North Oaks Medical Center attended by Purple Heart recipients, veterans, military families, community leaders and North Oaks staff members. As Louisiana’s first Purple Heart Hospital, North Oaks Health joins a growing national network of healthcare organizations dedicated to honoring the sacrifices of Purple Heart recipients and all who have served through both recognition and meaningful support.
Purple Heart Hospitals are healthcare organizations that publicly demonstrate their commitment to recognizing and supporting Purple Heart recipients and the broader veteran community through compassionate care, community partnerships and a culture that values military service. The designation reflects an organization’s efforts to foster a welcoming environment, strengthen connections with veterans and ensure military service and sacrifice are honored throughout the patient experience.
“Receiving this designation is an incredible honor because it represents far more than being first,” affirms Michele K. Sutton, FACHE, President and CEO of North Oaks Health. “It reflects our promise that every veteran who walks through our doors will be treated with dignity, compassion and deep respect for their service and sacrifice. Caring for those who have served our country is a responsibility we proudly embrace.
Sutton continues, “As we approach America’s 250th birthday, this designation serves as a reminder that honoring military service is not limited to a single day or ceremony. We are proud to stand alongside veterans and their families in recognition of their sacrifices and contributions to our nation.”
The designation makes North Oaks Health the first among Louisiana’s 256 hospitals to receive this national recognition.
Commander Ron Crowley, commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Department of Louisiana, presented the designation.
“The Purple Heart is America’s oldest military decoration and is awarded to fewer than 1% of all veterans,” Crowley notes. “It stands as a solemn reminder that freedom is never free. By becoming Louisiana’s first Purple Heart Hospital, North Oaks Health has demonstrated a lasting commitment to caring for those whose lives were forever changed through military service, as well as the families who stand beside them.”
Crowley, a Lafayette native and decorated U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, received three Purple Hearts for wounds sustained during two combat tours. He has served as Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Department of Louisiana for eight years, helping lead statewide efforts to recognize communities and organizations that honor the sacrifices of Purple Heart recipients and all who have served.
The ceremony included an invocation by North Oaks Pastoral Care Director Keith Kincaid, remarks from Crowley and Sutton, Presentation of the Colors by the Tangipahoa Cadet Squadron Civil Air Patrol Color Guard and an a cappella performance of the National Anthem by North Oaks Physical Therapist Crystal Poche.
Captain Tom Tolar, who serves as North Oaks Health’s Facilities Development and Construction Manager and Commander of the Louisiana Army National Guard’s 843rd Engineer Construction Company, introduced Crowley.
The ceremony concluded with Crowley signing the official designation, accompanied by fellow Purple Heart recipient William “Bill” Perkins of Independence, a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and American Legion Post 109.
Beyond the designation, North Oaks Health demonstrates its commitment to veterans through year-round programs, partnerships and services that honor military service, improve access to care and support veteran well-being. The health system hosts an annual Veterans Day Celebration, conducts Red, White and Blue Ceremonies that provide a final salute to veteran patients at the end of life, and maintains dedicated online resources to help veterans and their families navigate available benefits and services.
North Oaks Health is also one of only nine organizations in Louisiana approved to participate in the Veterans Health Information Exchange, providing secure access to veteran medical records that helps coordinate care across healthcare systems. In 2025, the health system received the Louisiana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award in recognition of its support for employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve.
Through partnerships with organizations such as VFW Post 3652 and its Auxiliary, Tangipahoa Parish Government, Southeastern Louisiana University’s Office of Military and Veteran Success and the Southern Bayou Woodturners, North Oaks Health supports initiatives that recognize service and strengthen the well-being of veterans and military families throughout the region. The health system provides sponsorships, resources, event support and volunteer assistance for community programs and events, including Carry The Load on Memorial Day, the Tangipahoa Parish Veterans Day Parade and Celebration, the Joe Kelly Freedom Pen Turn-a-Thon and Mess Hall Mayhem, among others.
“Last year, we were honored to receive the ESGR Patriot Award for supporting those who serve within our workforce,” Sutton said. “Today, as Louisiana’s first Purple Heart Hospital, that commitment extends even further. Whether through direct patient care, community partnerships or programs that honor military service, we strive to ensure veterans and their families know they are valued, respected and deeply appreciated for their sacrifices.”
About Military Order of the Purple Heart
The Military Order of the Purple Heart is a congressionally chartered veterans organization (Title 36 USC Chapter 1405) composed exclusively of men and women who have received the Purple Heart Medal for wounds sustained in combat or by acts of international terrorism. Headquartered just outside Washington, D.C., MOPH has approximately 45,300 members. Its mission is to foster camaraderie among combat-wounded veterans, promote patriotism, support legislative initiatives, and provide service to all veterans and their families.
About North Oaks Health System
North Oaks Health provides advanced care with local expertise to the Northshore. North Oaks Health’s acute care hospital is home to a Level II trauma center, a primary stroke center and a STEMI receiving center. It’s also home to an award-winning rehabilitation hospital that delivers the best outcomes in the region. And with the region’s largest, community-owned multispecialty provider clinic, the Florida Parishes gain expanded access to specialty care. For more information, please visit northoaks.org.