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Slideshow: Fort Hood Shooting Victims Receive Purple Hearts

In a solemn ceremony Friday, dozens of Purple Heart awards were given to victims of the 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood, which left 13 people dead and dozens injured.

by Bob Daemmrich

April 10, 20152 PM Central

Family members of those killed in 2009 during the Fort Hood shooting receive their awards at a ceremony on April 10, 2015. At the ceremony, 42 Purple Hearts and two of its civilian counterpart — the Defense of Freedom Medal — were presented to those killed and wounded in action. — Credit: Bob Daemmrich

Teena Nemelka (left) and Sheryll Pearson embrace before the Purple Heart ceremony at Fort Hood. Each lost a child in the 2009 shooting — PFC Aaron Nemelka and PFC Michael Pearson. — Credit: Bob Daemmrich

Juan Velez of Chicago kisses the portrait of his daughter, PFC Francheska Velez, who was killed in the November 2009 shooting at Fort Hood. — Credit: Bob Daemmrich

Gov. Greg Abbott applauds the Purple Heart recipients during the ceremony at Fort Hood. — Credit: Bob Daemmrich

SSG Joy Clark (Nelson), center, and other Purple Heart recipients receive their awards during the Fort Hood ceremony. — Credit: Bob Daemmrich

Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Royal, wounded in the November 2009 Fort Hood shootings, holds his Purple Heart while talking to the media on April 10, 2015. — Credit: Bob Daemmrich

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, U.S. Rep. John Carter, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and U.S. Rep. Roger Williams speak to reporters after the Fort Hood Purple Heart ceremony on April 10, 2015. — Credit: Bob Daemmrich