Erie Home Honors National Purple Heart Day Ceremony

The Erie Soldiers and Sailors Home observed National Purple Heart Day with a moving ceremony at their Purple Heart Memorial this Wednesday morning.

The home’s Purple Heart Memorial is located on the north side of the Gazebo on the home’s grounds. It designates the estimated 1.8 million courageous men and women who have received the Purple Heart after being wounded or killed in military service.

August 7, 1782, General George Washington established the Badge of Military Merit, known today as the Purple Heart, making it the nation’s oldest military decoration.

National Purple Heart Day is more than just an opportunity for those with the award to wear it with pride. It is a day for the nation to honor the men and women who have earned this prestigious award, and those who have given their lives in defense of the United States of America. Today’s annual observance serves to remind us of the extent of the sacrifice they made, and encourages the nation to remember, appreciate, and respect those who proved themselves beyond measure under the greatest pressure.