By David Fleet

Editor

It’s been a little more than a year since Ortonville VFW Commander Dennis Hoffman went in search of Purple Heart veterans.

Sixty-one veterans responded.

“I’m just amazed that many responded in our small community,” said Hoffman, an Army veteran who served in Korea from 1968-70. “It’s just a great honor to recognize those who gave so much.”

Hoffman received the blessing of the village council in March to have Aug. 1 designated Purple Heart Day.

The 61 area Purple Heart recipients are listed on two plaques to be dedicated during a ceremony at 10 a.m., Aug. 6 at Ortonville Cemetery Veterans Memorial. A plaque and stone monument is now located in downtown Ortonville near the intersection of Mill and South streets.

The medal is presented for being wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States or opposing armed forces.

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

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” started in 1992.