Middletown designated a Purple Heart City

Middletown is joining more than 30 communities in Ohio designated as a Purple Heart City.

Middletown City Council today is officially recognizing Purple Heart Day and its designation as a Purple Heart City by the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Other Purple Heart Cities in the region include Hamilton, Franklin, Springboro and West Carrollton.

Middletown police: Man killed in wrong-way crash was not being chased

Members of the Ohio chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Honor Guard will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and accept a proclamation during tonight’s city council meeting. Members of the VFW Post 3809 will also be in attendance.

In addition, Middletown resident LaFayette Bronston, a three-time Purple Heart recipient, will be presented with a commemorative coin during the meeting. Bronston, a retired Marine staff sergeant, sustained wounds serving in Vietnam. He is the husband of Middletown Vice Mayor Dora Bronston.

Purple Heart organization to install military monument in Hamilton

National Purple Heart Day, which takes place annually on Aug. 7, honors the recipients of the oldest American military decoration. The origins of the award date back to Aug. 7, 1782, when then-General George Washington created the badge of Military Merit.

The Purple Heart is now awarded to members of the Armed Forces wounded in combat with an enemy force, or posthumously to the next of kin of members of the Armed Forces killed in combat.

About the Author