Photo: Purple Heart Day in Belmont

Since its inception in Belmont about a decade ago, Purple Heart Day has been a mostly intimate event with aging veterans joined by town officials and residents to honor those awarded the nation’s oldest military decoration that is presented to those wounded or killed while serving in the U.S. armed forces

But on a picture perfect summer evening in the first week of August, the Veterans Memorial at Clay Pit Pond was packed with attendees to hear the story of this uniquely American honor and the people who earned it.

“I want to say ‘thank you very much’ to everyone that made the time to come and be with us here tonight, to help us honor and appreciate and show our respect to those Purple Heart recipients of this town and those that are with us here tonight,” said Bob Upton, Belmont’s Veterans Service Officer.

Joining the ceremony this year were dozens of young members from Antioch Baptist Church, a pre-dominantly Asian-American church located in Cambridge. They gathered at the behest of the church’s pastor emeritus Paul Kim and his wife Dr. Rebekah Kim, who serves as a Baptist chaplain at Harvard.

Kim, who has attended serveral veterans events in Belmont over the years and who gave the invocation, decided Thursday was an opportune time to introduce many of his congregation to what it takes to earn the Purple Heart.

“Who were they who served the country? Our country cannot enjoy freedom as it is, if not for those people who gave the ultimate sacrifice and to serve our nation,” Kim told the Belmontonian.

“So many of the next generation don’t understand war. They just take everything for granted. We want to have these young people understand the history, American history. It’s been so valuable for our children to just learn about the sacrifices that were made so that we could have all these blessings of living in this country,” said Kim.

Thursday evening’s keynote speaker was retired US Army Col. Bob Notch, the leader of the newly formed Commonwealth Office of the Veteran Advocate, a first in the nation independent state office dedicated to safeguarding the well-being and upholding the rights of the veteran community.

“Thank you for being here, for keeping the recognition of Purple Heart Day alive in your community,” he said. “It speaks volumes about who you are, your commitment of service, your commitment to those who have served, and your commitment to each other. You are blessed to be in a community that cares so deeply, and thank you for allowing me to participate in your recognition.”

“We all understand what the Purple Heart Medal is today, a recognition of the blood shed by military members wounded or killed by an act of the enemy in service to our country,” said Notch, a West Point graduate who served 27 years in active duty and the reserves including tours during Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Notch reviewed the history of the medal. In 1782, as the Revolutionary War was ending, General George Washington was looking for was a way to recognize the patriotism from his troops, “the valor of those folks that had fought alongside him for the last seven years.” So he commissioned the Badge of Military Merit in the shape of a heart made of purple silk edged with silver colored lace on a wool background, and the word “merit” embroidered in silver.

What made the badge unique was the Purple Heart was presented to all ranks, and was a significant recognition for enlisted soldiers. “In the years before 1782, most military awards were given to officers who secured grand victories in battle, enlisted members did not awards,” said Notch,. He noted John F. Kennedy is the only president to receive a Purple Heart, highlighting its historical significance.

Notch said 147 recipients from Belmont have been awarded the Purple Heart. “If you compare that to the population of Belmont today, that is about one half of one percent of the population of this town. So I congratulate the residents of Belmont, all of you that are here tonight.” And while researching his speech, Notch discovered that 51 female veterans are residents.

Upton said he plans to identify the Purple Heart receipants and female veterans in town so they can be recognized at future events.

“Just Gimme A Coupla Aspirin. I Already Got A Purple Heart.” Cartoon By Bill Mauldin, Stars & Stripes 1944.

“Because history humbles us. History makes us understand. History is a past, but the future. You know these people to understand, while they have opportunities given because that without the history, the people who sacrifice to make America strong and that free country as it is.

So if youreally is, like, to know your community, you have to know that community’s past,

yeah, that’s right, because the young people, very these are the church members, right? we want to have these young people to understand the history, American history.

“Who were they who served the country? Our country cannot enjoy freedom as it is, if not for those people who gave the ultimate sacrifice and to serve our nation,”

so many of the next generation don’t understand war. They just take everything for granted, that mantra that freedom is not free from the Korean War, the monument in Washington, DC, he’s been preaching and teaching about it.
most of our congregation are second, third generation Asian American, but really,

it’s been so valuable for our children to just learn about the sacrifices that were made so that they could have all these blessings, you know, of living in this country.