Millville close to becoming a Purple Heart Community
MILLVILLE — MillvilleMemorial American Legion Post 411 is starting the process of designating the Town of Millville as a Purple Heart Community in recognition of local veterans.
At a recent meeting of the selectmen, the board met with American Legion Post 411 Commander Philip Clark who is proposing that the town pursue the designation from the Military Order of the Purple Heart, a Congressionally-chartered charity composed of military men and women who received the Purple Heart Medal for wounds suffered in combat.
Clark explained that hundreds of communities across the county – including 56 in the state of Massachusetts – have become Purple Heart towns/cities. He said that doing so signifies a dedication by the community to support individuals with combat wounds, particularly those who have received a Purple Heart.
“It really recognizes those men and women wounded in action and awarded the Purple Heart and those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Clark, adding he is aware of at least two residents in town who are Purple Heart recipients.
Other nearby towns designated as Purple Heart Communities including Uxbridge, Millbury, Grafton, Upton and Franklin.
Members of the Board of Selectmen supported the idea unanimously.
“It’s a nice thing to do and the right thing to do and I’m glad to see this before us,” said Selectwoman Jennifer Dean Wing.
Clark said now that he has the board’s blessing, he will approach the Military Order of the Purple Heart. If that organization agrees the town will have a ceremony honoring wounded veterans sometime later this year.
Purple Heart town designations have been adopted by communities across the United States as part of an effort by the Military Order of the Purple Heart. There are more than 150 Purple Heart communities in the country and there are currently more than 50 in Massachusetts, with more expected to be added. The town of Westboro was the first community in the commonwealth to be designated as a “Purple Heart” town.
The Purple Heart is specifically a combat decoration and it is our nation’s oldest military medal. It was first created by General George Washington in 1782 and was known as the Badge of Military Merit. It was first awarded to three soldiers in Newburgh, N.Y. The Badge of Military Merit was made of cloth and it is the predecessor of the Purple Heart medal.
The current Purple Heart medal was developed by General Douglas MacArthur in 1932. The new design was created by Miss Elisabeth Will, an Army heraldic specialist in the Office of the Quartermaster General. The revived form is of metal, instead of perishable cloth, made in the shape of a rich purple heart bordered with gold, with a bust of Washington in the center and the Washington coat-of-arms at the top.
The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the armed forces of the U.S who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action.
Chartered by Congress in 1958, The Military Order of the Purple Heart is composed of military men and women who received the Purple Heart Medal for wounds suffered in combat. Although membership is restricted to the combat wounded, the group supports all veterans and their families with a myriad of nationwide programs by chapters and national service officers.
Wives, mothers, daughters, step-daughters and adopted daughters of Purple Heart recipients are eligible to belong to the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, which also does important work nationally and locally in veterans' hospitals.
After it receives its designation, the town will hold an official ceremony and signs will be placed at various town portals identifying the community as a Purple Heart town.