active duty, Afghanistan, Culture, medal, Military, pawn shop, purple heart, soldier, troops, Culture

An active-duty soldier, on leave from Afghanistan, pawned one of his two Purple Heart medals this week in West Michigan to make ends meet during the holiday season. The medals are awarded to soldiers who have been wounded in battle, and carry one of the highest military honors. The pawn shop’s owner has no plans to sell the medal, unless its original owner returns to claim it…