Purple Star Board Members
John Henry Parker, Co-Founder
John Henry created Purple Star Veterans and Families (PSVF) in 2010 in memory of his son Danny Facto who was killed in an excessive speed related motorcycle accident after completing his military service. Danny was a Purple Heart Recipient and Combat Veteran of two tours in Afghanistan with the Army 10th Mountain Division. PSVF was also launched on behalf of countless families of struggling Veterans and for the families of Veterans who are not surviving homecoming. John Henry is a former peacetime Marine and his father was a former Marine, Korean War Combat Veteran and Air Force Vietnam Reconnaissance photographer.
John Henry has been in the field of behavioral assessment analysis since 1991. He has worked in the field of personal, professional, transformational and leadership development since 1986 with an emphasis in team analysis and performance management with business owners and leaders.
Melanie Reagan, Media Relations, Blue Star Mother
Melanie Reagan has served as volunteer liaison for Purple Star Veterans & Families for more than a decade. She is employed by the California State Senate as Consultant to the Joint Legislative Committee on Fairs Allocation & Classification. She is also an award-winning media marketing professional with more than 20 years career experience including on-air radio and television broadcasting. She developed successful promotion teams, executed major media events, leads marketing and writing workshops and just completed her first book, a memoir dedicated to her late husband. Melanie is also a certified instructor and fifth degree black in Taekwondo. Melanie’s father was a WWII Navy doctor and her twins and their spouses graduated fromWest PointArmy and United States Air Force military academies and are actively serving.
Cindy Baldwin, Secretary
Cindy Baldwin has made it her mission in life to advocate for those in need. In 2006 her husband died from suicide. Cindy having firsthand experience of the aftermath of such a loss has found meaning and purpose in advocating and educating those in similar circumstances. For the past six years Cindy has been a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer in which she advocates for foster youth – children who have been abused, neglected or abandoned and are living in out-of-home placements. She acts as the “eyes and ears of the judge and the voice of the child.” She is also a Family Mentor with CASA of Placer County she mentors to parents who have had children removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect.
Cindy has been employed with the California State Senate on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee for the past fifteen years. Cindy had reached out to Purple Star for assistance with a few veterans that needed help. After working with Purple Star she found herself drawn to get involved as a volunteer.
Cindy is also proud to say her father was a WWII veteran in the Navy. She is a mother of two adult children. When Cindy is not working to help others you will find her on a yoga mat teaching and promoting health and wellness.
Dave Taylor, Videographer and Media Production
Dave Taylor is a music/video/film producer, photographer and musician who owns Cool Brick Studios and Stop Drop and Roll Productions in Carbondale, Colorado. Cool Brick Studios is an active supporter of many worthwhile causes including student music production and development, Feed Them With Music, a variety of foundations supporting infrastructure and living standards in the Third World and important social causes.
Dave is a staunch supporter of Purple Star Veterans and Families, and provides mulitmedia content for it’s website and fundraising efforts.
Recognizing the Contributions of Danny Facto
Danny Facto 1979 – 2009 Co-Founder in Memoriam
Purple Heart Recipient and Combat Veteran of two tours in Afghanistan with the Army 10th Mountain Division. Until his passing, Danny was pursuing a Masters in Clinical Social Work from Syracuse University with a vision of working directly with Veterans and their families both inside and outside the VA. Many of the concepts and programs Purple Star has been developing since 2004 are a result of Danny’s ideas and insights from his personal and family’s homecoming and transition experiences.