Purple Heart Day salves old wounds
Sherry Thompson and Lea Anna Mason from Housecalls Hospice serve lunch to the attendees of the Purple Heart celebration ceremony Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park. (Photo by Candice Black)
Kolten Morris and Jerry Smith, volunteer for Housecalls Hospice, display the flag at the Purple Heart celebration ceremony Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park. (Photo by Candice Black)
Sherry Thompson and Lea Anna Mason from Housecalls Hospice serve lunch to the attendees of the Purple Heart celebration ceremony Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park. (Photo by Candice Black)
Kolten Morris and Jerry Smith, volunteer for Housecalls Hospice, display the flag at the Purple Heart celebration ceremony Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park. (Photo by Candice Black)
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WILLIAMSTOWN -- The inaugural ceremony for a National Purple Heart Day celebration was held Saturday at the Veterans Memorial Park.
George Washington started the Purple Heart program in the 1700s. It is awarded to people who were wounded or lost their lives in action during their time in the military.
Jerry Smith, volunteer with Housecalls Hospice said since then, around 1.8 million people in the country have received a Purple Heart.
The event was a collaboration from a few local organizations: Housecalls Hospice, Marine Corps League Wood County Detachment 1087 and Disable American Veterans Chapter 32.
Smith said the celebration was a way to thank veterans for their service and honor those who received a Purple Heart.
"What they went through is amazing. We can't do enough for our veterans, to honor them; it is the least we can do," he said.
Paul DeBerry, Marine Corps veteran, received two Purple Hearts from his time serving in Vietnam. He said he appreciated people putting on the celebration.
Housecalls Hospice has a volunteer program which involves veterans visiting fellow veterans while they are in hospice care. Smith is one of the volunteers and said they give veterans they visit a certificate and thank them for their service.
"If you can go in and get a grin, you've done your job," he said.
Sherry Thompson, volunteer coordinator with Housecalls Hospice, said the organization is proud to work with veterans and views them as special heroes.
"We've met a lot of nice people and veterans, and it's amazing," she said. "I'm proud to get to know them, and I thank each and every one of them for the service."
Marine Corps League member Kevin Siers also expressed his gratitude for his military brothers and sisters and Purple Heart recipients.
"Everybody here made a sacrifice for this country and those who were awarded the Purple Heart, multiply that sacrifice by 100," he said. "We appreciate what you gave to us in respect to this county. (To) all of you Purple Heart recipients, we've always got your back."
Candice Black can be reached at cblack@newsandsentinel.com.