By Susan Bromley

Staff Writer

Ortonville- Dennis Hoffman needs your help to honor our Purple Heart veterans.

The commander of the VFW Post 582 received the blessing of the village council last month to have Aug. 1 designated Purple Heart Day. He now plans to have the nearly 50 Purple Heart recipients from this area honored with their names on two plaques to be dedicated during a ceremony Aug. 7 at Ortonville Cemetery.

However, that action, as well as his plan to have the Ortonville Purple Heart Community designation placed on signs on northbound and southbound M-15 requires funds.

“I am hoping community members will make a donation to honor our veterans past and present that have earned the Purple Heart,” said Hoffman. “The only way you can get the Purple Heart is to have been wounded in combat. Some paid the ultimate price, with their lives. All donations for honoring our veterans would be greatly appreciated.”

Through his research, Hoffman has determined the area has four Purple Heart recipients from the Civil War, three from World War I, about 19 from World War II, two from the Korean War, 17 fromVietnam, and one from Operation Enduring Freedom.

As a Purple Heart community, Ortonville will earn a place on the Purple Heart Trail. According to purpleheart.org, the purpose of the trail established in 1992 is “to create a symbolic and honorary system of roads, highways, bridges, and other monuments that give tribute to the men and women who have been awarded the Purple Heart medal.

The Purple Heart Trail accomplishes this honorary goal by creating a visual reminder to those who use the road system that others have paid a high price for their freedom to travel and live in a free society. Signs placed at various locations annotate those roads and highways where legislation has been passed to designate parts of the national road system as The Purple Heart Trail.”

The trail currently has designated sections in 45 states as well as Guam.

Donations for the plaques and signs designating Ortonville as a Purple Heart community can be sent to Dennis Hoffman, 274 N. Church St., Ortonville, MI 48462. Make checks payable to VFW Post 582 Purple Heart Fund. Details: 248-627-1065.