56°F
weather icon Partly Cloudy

Purple Heart Day ceremony to honor injured and fallen heroes

National Purple Heart Day, marked on Aug. 7 each year, presents the country with an opportunity to honor those who enlisted in the U.S. armed forces and bravely took up the mantle of defenders of freedom, only to suffer an injury or worse, lose their lives in the line of duty.

Here in the Pahrump Valley, Purple Heart Day has become a regular part of the military observance calendar, with the Disabled American Veterans Chapter #15 leading the effort to shine a spotlight on the day and its somber meaning. Since hosting the first ceremony recognizing the holiday in 2017, the DAV has continued to bring together veterans’ organizations, former military members and the community for an annual event that pays tribute to all the men and women who have served and bear the physical scars of war.

This year’s Purple Heart Day ceremony is set to take place on Sunday, Aug. 7 around sundown. The event will open at 6 p.m. and run for approximately one hour. Representatives from the DAV as well as the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #10054 and Marine Corps League Detachment #1199 will be participating.

Nye County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard and deputy Greg Curtain will take part, too, and Nye County Commissioner Frank Carbone will formally present the proclamations declaring Aug. 7 to be Purple Heart Day in both Pahrump and Nye County.

Assemblyman Greg Hafen II will present the state proclamations and Nevada Department of Veterans Services Director Fred Wagar will be the evening’s guest speaker.

History of the Purple Heart

“The award known as the Purple Heart has a history that reaches back to the waning days of the American Revolution,” information from the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor details. “The Continental Congress had forbidden General George Washington from granting commissions and promotions in rank to recognize merit. Yet Washington wanted to honor merit, particularly among the enlisted soldiers. On Aug. 7, 1782, his general orders established the Badge of Military Merit.”

Following the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, however, the Badge of Military Merit fell out of use and was not revived for more than 100 years.

“General John J. ‘Blackjack’ Pershing suggested a need for an award for merit in 1918 but it was not until 1932 that the modern Purple Heart was created in recognition of Washington’s ideals and for the bicentennial of his birth. General Order #3 announced the establishment of the award,” the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor website explains.

“The Purple Heart has undergone many changes with respect to the criteria for being awarded. At first, the Purple Heart was exclusively awarded to Army and Army Air Corps personnel and could not be awarded posthumously to the next of kin,” the website continues.

“In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order allowing the Navy to award the Purple Heart to sailors, Marines and Coast Guard personnel. Also in that year, the Purple Heart was made available for posthumous awarding to any member of the armed forces killed on or after Dec. 6, 1941. …Currently, the Purple Heart… is awarded… to any member of the armed forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. armed services after April 5, 1917, has been wounded, killed or has died after being wounded by enemy action.”

The 2022 Purple Heart Day ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 7 at the Pahrump Veterans Memorial, 751 East Street. All are welcome to attend.

Contact reporter Robin Hebrock at rhebrock@pvtimes.com

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Beatty Clinic gets tons of help with new a/c

BEATTY — The Beatty Foundation, an affiliate of AngloGold-Ashanti (AGA), did tons of good at the Beatty Clinic on March 22. Nine tons, exactly.

11th Annual Chili Cook-Off brings tempting tastings and festival fun

The 11th Annual International Chili Society and Silver State Chili Cook-Off took over Petrack Park this past weekend for three days filled with savory tastings, fun and activities and of course, some intense culinary competition.

Pahrump homeschoolers dance the night away

Pahrump Valley’s homeschool youth were whisked away into the Enchanted Forest this month, with local Moose Lodge #808 hosting a night of dancing and revelry in honor of an age-old adolescent right-of-passage, prom.

Looking for some family fun for Easter? Hop over to Simkins Park

Anyone looking for a fun, family-friendly festivity to enjoy this holiday can hop on over to Simkins Park to join the Mills family as they celebrate Easter Sunday with worship music, free food and an enormous 14,000-egg hunt that is sure to bring a smile to hundreds of faces.

Campground fees to increase at Death Valley National Park

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. — Visitors to Death Valley National Park can expect a slight increase in entrance fees for various campgrounds beginning on May 1.

Clerk staffer Cori Freidhof appointed interim leader

Nye County Clerk Mark Kampf’s time in office officially comes to a close on March 31 and deputy clerk Cori Freidhof has now been selected to assume that vacated seat. Freidhof will take over the office as of Monday, April 1 and fulfill the unexpired term ending Jan. 1, 2027.

Gaming can have impact on us

When does gaming cross the line from recreational relaxation to problematic behavior? How do video games and gambling relate? What resources are available for those who find themselves struggling to control their relationship with video games and gambling?

County eyeing impact fee increases

The cost to develop in Pahrump could go up, with a public hearing on a proposal to raise local impact fees set for next month.

Here’s who filed as political candidates in Nye County

Locals have filed their political candidacy as of March 15 and this year two major offices in Nye County will be up for grabs in the general election. Nye County residents have to first narrow down their preferred party candidate on June 11 in the primary and then vote in November to support their preferred candidates.