Commissioners to honor Purple Heart recipients

Jul. 19—Members of the Johnson County Commissioners Court plan to honor Purple Heart recipients during their Monday meeting via a proclamation designating Aug. 7 as Johnson County Purple Heart Medal Recipient's Days of Honor throughout the county.

Purple Heart recipient veterans and their family members are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Purple Heart Day, observed every Aug. 7 in the U.S., commemorates the establishment in 1782 of the Badge of Military Merit. George Washington created that award to honor soldiers for their distinguished actions in battle. The Purple Heart was not used after the Revolutionary War until its restoration in 1931 with a new design. It is awarded to any member of the U.S. Armed Forces who has been wounded or killed, or died as the result of a wound in battle, or for any other purpose as designated the president of the United States.

Members of Cleburne American Legion Post 50 and Alvarado American Legion Post 426 have also been invited to share in the proclamation.

AL officials stressed the importance of honoring veterans

"Aug. 7 of each year it is our patriotic duty to remember and recognize those people willing to serve our country no matter the price," Former AL Post 50 Commander Allen Buckles said. "It is our honor to take this time just to shake their hands and say, 'Thank you' to each of them.

"This reception gives us and members of the public an opportunity to meet these courageous veterans that have been recognized for being wounded in military service."

The American Legion posts of Cleburne and Alvarado have for the past several years alternated hosting events to mark Purple Heart Recipients' Day each year.

This years event will take place at 2 p.m. Aug. 4 at the Alvarado Post, 8500 Farm-to-Market Road 3136.

"We will have representatives from both posts there," Cleburne American Legion Auxilliary member Mary Peters said. "We, of course, hope to see all area Purple Heart recipients there and their family members so that we can thank and honor them. But we also invite all patriotic residents to show up to support, meet and visit with our local American heroes."

Johnson County Commissioner Larry Woolley encouraged all to attend the Aug. 4 event as well as Monday's court proclamation.

"This is a proclamation I and I know everyone else on the court looks forward to making every year," Woolley said. "We have a good number of veterans in Johnson County who received the Purple Heart and it's so important that we recognize, honor them and all our veterans and current military members. Those men and women did so much and we owe all their their sacrifices and efforts.

"I hope to see some Purple Heart recipients at the courthouse on Monday. I encourage members of the public to come too to meet and honor these veterans and thank them for their service."