Wasilla, borough move to recognize Purple Heart honor

“By Aug. 7, 1782, hostilities had ended and peace talks were under way in Paris. That day, George Washington’s thoughts were with his men camped nearby at New Windsor. They had suffered appalling privatations for over six years. His officers were on the verge of mutiny because of lack of pay, rations and supplies withheld by a corrupt and negligent Congress. …

“As a result, faithful service and outstanding acts of bravery went unrecognized and unrewarded. George Washington was determined to end that. So from his headquarters perched 80 feet above the Hudson, he issued a general order establishing the ‘Badge of Distinction’ and ‘Badge of Merit.’”

That’s how Prof. Ray Raymond describes the origins of two of America’s most distinguished and recognizable military honors, the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart Medal. Prof. Raymond wrote his paper on behalf of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and it’s that medal that prompts today’s editorial.

Originally, soldiers were allowed to wear the award — “a figure of a heart in purple cloth or silk, edged with narrow lace or binding,” as Prof. Raymond describes it — over the left breast of their uniforms. The symbol for that award for merit would evolve into what we know today as the Purple Heart Medal.

The Purple Heart has been awarded to more than 800,000 military service men and women injured or killed in combat.

As the U.S. state with the highest per-capita population of veterans, Alaska and the Mat-Su Valley are intimately familiar with this honor. Most of us have family, friends or know someone who has received the Purple Heart Medal.

Which is why we’re proud and pleased to see the city of Wasilla act to become the state’s first Purple Heart City, a proclamation certified by the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The Mat-Su Borough was quick to follow suit by becoming the state’s first Purple Heart Borough, and the cities of Palmer and Houston are expected to do the same later this month.

In a state molded by military and flush with patriotic pride, the Mat-Su is leading the way in helping recognize those who risk life and limb for our freedom. The impact of what may seem a relatively small move is very personal for those among us whose sacrifice has been recognized with the Purple Heart Medal. As one local military group organizer told us, it’s a club nobody joins by choice.

The designation will be most evident on road signs proclaiming a city to be a Purple Heart City, and in the case of Wasilla, “Alaska’s First Purple Heart City.” Seeing those signs tells our veterans that here their service and sacrifice is recognized and appreciated.

The next step is to join California as only the second state in the Union to be recognized as a Purple Heart State.

As leaders in this effort, it is fitting that our Mat-Su legislative delegation join this effort and introduce legislation next session that proudly proclaims Alaska a Purple Heart State.

We challenge our local legislators to join this effort to honor these our most distinguished neighbors.