Sunset Memory Gardens Cemetery will be dedicated as the only Purple Heart cemetery in the state of West Virginia on Friday. (Photo by James Dobbs)

PARKERSBURG — Sunset Memorial Funeral Home announced Monday, that the Sunset Memory Gardens Cemetery would be dedicated as the only Purple Heart cemetery in the state of West Virginia and the Mid-Ohio Valley on Friday.

Dwight Ullman, general manager, said the state will recognize the cemetery with a proclamation dedicating the Sunset cemetery as the only Purple Heart cemetery in West Virginia and the Mid-Ohio Valley.

The event will take place inside the Sunset Memorial Funeral Home at 1934 Dupont Road (W.Va. 95), south Parkersburg, at 1 p.m. Friday.

“It’s an honor for us,” said Ullman. “We’re very excited and happy that this is happening.”

Ullman said Sunset Memorial welcomes veterans, Purple Heart recipients and families of Purple Heart recipients to join in the celebration. The Purple Heart is a medal awarded to those killed or wounded while serving in the military.

Sunset Memorial will also be holding its annual food drive for the Disabled American Veterans Association (D.A.V.) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, as well as a Toy for Tots drive to help collect Christmas presents for kids in need across the Mid-Ohio Valley.

“It’s an honor for us to be able to do things for veterans, because we all know that without the veterans, we wouldn’t be where we’re at today,” he said.

Ullman said he feels the importance of recognizing veterans because they are often forgotten about, and should be recognized and remembered for their service. He said most veterans who receive a Purple Heart don’t tell others about their achievement.

“They take that as a private honor and don’t make a big deal about it,” he said. “If you talk to the veterans that were in World War II, they don’t talk about what all they saw in battle.”

Ullman said their next step is to find out how many veterans buried in the Sunset Memory Gardens Cemetery are Purple Heart recipients. He said they plan to start incorporating a wall in the veterans garden to honor veterans who have received a Purple Heart.

James Dobbs can be reached at jdobbs@newsandsentinel.com.