'Slender Man' Victim Gets Purple Heart Medal in Mail

Anonymous donor sends it to Wisconsin girl who was stabbed
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 22, 2014 1:45 PM CDT
'Slender Man' Victim Gets Purple Heart Medal in Mail
In this June 19, 2014, photo the 12-year-old Waukesha, Wis., victim of the "Slender Man" attacks holds a "Thank You" poster for the many supporters from around the world that have sent her cards.   (AP Photo/Dana Hoffmann)

Since her release from the hospital in June, the 12-year-old girl from Wisconsin who was stabbed 19 times (allegedly by two friends) in a “Slender Man”-inspired attack has received gifts and cards from all over the world—many of them made out of purple hearts, the girl’s favorite color and shape, says the AP. But one anonymous donor decided she deserved the real deal and sent the child a bona fide Purple Heart medal, accompanied by a note that simply said, “The only heart I could find—be strong!” The decoration is awarded to US servicemembers wounded or killed in action.

A spokesman for the girl’s family tells ABC News that sifting through the daily deluge of well-wishes has been “therapeutic” for her. But the receipt of the Purple Heart proved exceptionally touching. “The gift really resonates with the family because they are still dealing with wounds, emotionally and physically, from the events of May 31." One person not surprised is John Scocos, secretary of Wisconsin's VA. “It does not surprise me that a decorated veteran unselfishly gave this amazingly brave and courageous little girl something from his or her heart,” he says in a statement cited by Reuters. The family thanks the donor (veteran or not), saying that they’ve “been so touched and moved by this act of kindness that they would like to personally thank the individual, publicly or privately, for the gift and for their sacrifice for our country." (More Slender Man stories.)

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