Ten veterans as well as family members, Grundy County commissioners, and other Grundy County employees attended the Purple Heart Ceremony at the Grundy County Courthouse in Trenton Tuesday morning.
Senior Vice Commander for the Missouri Military Order of the Purple Heart Walt Schley presented a plaque to Presiding Commissioner Rick Hull recognizing Grundy County as a Purple Heart County.
Schley said the designation recognizes counties that recognize veterans, gold star mothers, and gold star children. As part of the designation, Purple Heart County signs will be put up by the “Entering Grundy County” road signs.
Schley explained that one reason ceremonies are held to officially designate counties as Purple Heart Counties is so residents and others better understand what the signs mean.
Other than the signs, Schley noted the county can also use the designation for tourism and on letterhead. He said he personally was wounded in Vietnam in 1969 and received the Purple Heart.
Schley said the Purple Heart County designation has been going on for about 20 years, and he has presented at 13 ceremonies in the past year. He was impressed by the number of veterans who attended the ceremony in Grundy County.
Schley expressed appreciation to Grundy County and the Grundy County Commission for coming forward and expressing interest in being a Purple Heart County.
