The 12-year-old girl who was stabbed repeatedly and allegedly by two friends who were carrying out a crime in the name of the fictional “Slender Man” Internet meme was awarded a Purple Heart medal by a veteran who wished to remain anonymous.
The Wisconsin girl — whose name is withheld for privacy reasons — is still recovering from 19 stab wounds. Well-wishers from around the country have been sending her cards and greetings in the shape and color of her declared favorites — a heart, and purple, the New York Daily News reported.
But just recently, she received the real thing — a Purple Heart medal, accompanied by the note: “The only heart I could find. Be strong!”
John Scocos, the Wisconsin Secretary of Veterans Affairs, said in a statement that Purple Heart medals are only given to veterans who are killed or wounded during military action.
“American service men and women are also moms and dads, uncles and aunts — brothers and sisters,” he said, the New York Daily News reported. “It does not surprise me that a decorated veteran unselfishly gave this amazingly brave and courageous little girl something from his or her heart.”
The girl’s family, meanwhile, expressed gratitude at the gift.
“The family would love to meet with him or her, publicly or privately and thank them for the gift and for their service,” said family spokesman Steve Lyons, in the media report. “If they’re rather not, that’s OK too.”
The two suspects in the stabbing crime, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, both 12, reportedly told police they committed the act for “Slender Man,” and had plans to go off and live with the fictional character in the woods.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.