A ceremony recognizing Daviess County as a Purple Heart County was attended by Daviess County Commissioners, Wayne Uthe, David Cox and Jim Ruse, and County Clerk Ronetta Burton. Pastor Robert Nelson, Lake Viking Church, gave the invocation. Gary Jones, chaplain with the local VFW, welcomed the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Walt Schley, Commander, presented the Purple Heart County Sign. Several members of the military attended along with Daviess County deputies, courthouse employees, and family and community members.
Daviess County is now a Purple Heart County, honoring the service of all the veterans and Purple Heart recipients who live here.
Daviess is the 81st county in Missouri to receive the honor of the Purple Heart County.
Walt Schley, Commander, Chapter 115, said the designation means that the sacrifices of the county’s military men and women will be remembered. Schley is Senior Vice Commander, Kansas City, for the Department of Missouri Military Order of the Purple Heart. He noted that Purple Heart cities and counties are part of the Purple Heart Trail, which creates a symbolic and honorary system of roads, highways, bridges and other monuments giving tribute to the men and women who have been awarded the Purple Heart medal.
The Purple Heart is the medal awarded to all U.S. military members who have been wounded or killed in combat. Two Purple Heart recipients were among the veterans attending the ceremony at the courthouse Wednesday. Darral Crabtree, Albany, formerly of Pattonsburg, received the Purple Heart as a Marine in Vietnam in 1970 when he received a gun shot wound. Kenneth Mort, Jamesport, served in the Second Korean War (1966-1967) as a commanding officer in the Army, second infantry division. He received the Purple Heart when he lost his foot stepping on a land mine.
The Purple Heart design was first created by Gen. George Washington as the Badge of Military Merit in 1782. The current Purple Heart, which features a profile of Washington in gold, was developed by Gen. Douglas MacArthur in 1932.
The Daviess County Commission signed a resolution to make Daviess County a Purple Heart County during their Oct. 10 meeting. The plaque will be displayed on the first floor of the courthouse in the lobby. The county commissioners have also purchased a Purple Heart County sign, which will be displayed in the northeast flower bed by the civil war cannon.
